411 PPV Roundtable Preview: ECW One Night Stand 2006
Posted by Stephen Randle on 06.10.2006
WWE goes back to the bingo hall once again, and 411's right there and ready to make their predictions.
This Sunday, WWE presents ECW: One Night Stand 2006, live from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Tickets have been sold out for weeks, so the only way you can see this event is on PPV, paying the newly raised prices. And the only place you can get the best predictions for the One Night Stand card is right here on 411, in this very feature.
As WWE (re-re-re)-re-resurrects the ECW brand, both for the PPV and with the new TV show debuting on Sci Fi next week, there are many questions that need to be answered. Who's a face? Who's a heel? And why the hell are there so many WWE guys involved this year? The answers are both simple and complex, and we, the 411 staff, will give you our opinions on the matches, and the stories behind the matches, as we predict the results for ECW: One Night Stand 2006.
Let's meet the competitors:
Stephen Randle, Wrestling News Experience
Larry Csonka, he chokes bitches out
Scott Slimmer, 411 Heat recapper
Ari Berenstein, Column of Honor
Mathew Sforcina, Evolution Schematic
Andy Clark, The Shimmy
Gavin Napier, formerly of Ask 411, soon to return with an all-new column
Bayani Domingo, Truth B Told
Grayson Hamill, The Butterfly Effect
Julian Williams, The Top Ten
Jeff Small, Sunday Small-For-All News Report
Leonard Hayhurst, 411 Movies Editor and The 10th Day News Report
John Meehan, Meethinks
Stuart Carapola, That Was Then
Justin Pelletier, Pelletier's Perspective in 411 Sports
Dan Zubruegg, 411 Velocity recapper
and Steve Sullivan, OVW correspondent.
Yes, it's quite a motley crew we have here, though I guess it's only appropriate considering the subject matter. Speaking of which, let's get to the card.
Balls Mahoney vs. Masato Tanaka
NOTE: This match has not been officially advertised by WWE
Stephen Randle: I like puns as much as the next guy, but I was all set to see Awesome-Tanaka tear it down again. Now, there are two options here, since we're also relaunching a brand and will need storylines. Either they couldn't/wouldn't get Awesome under contract, or (my choice), Awesome attacks Tanaka post-match to start a feud.
Winner: Masato Tanaka
Larry Csonka: Nothing like having your match announced via T SHIRT to set the world on fire. Balls and Tanaka had some really good matches back in 2000 or so. Normally I would say, "Well this is 6-years later" but after the show Tanaka put on with Awesome last year, and I will not doubt either of these men. Possibility of awesomeness is 50-50.
Winner: BALLS~!
Ari Berenstein: I've always been a Balls mark...I don't want to know how that reads. Tanaka is a Hammerstein Ballroom SUPERSTAR~! and he will go all out in this match, hopefully once again stealing the show. The real question...will Jimmy Rave sign to ECW so that we can have a "Balls!" vs. "Jimmy Likes Balls!" chant off?
Winner: Balls Mahoney (with a chair...naturally)
Mathew Sforcina: Why is this not Tanaka vs. Awesome in a Last Man Standing match or something? Huh? Well, I want to say Balls, since he's a full ECW member now and Tanaka isn't. But remember last year, Heyman booked to confuse us Smart fans. So let's assume he hasn't changed.
Winner: Masato Tanaka (Ichibaning Up off many chairshots to end with a Roaring Elbow)
Andy Clark: Where the fuck is The Sandman? Seriously, Balls Mahoney gets a match and a guy that'll probably be a cornerstone for the company isn't on the card? What, did Vince not want to shell out the cash for "Enter Sandman" again? I guess this match will have some good hardcore action so that's OK.
Winner: Masato Tanaka (just because he's cooler)
Gavin Napier: There are two trains of thought here. The first is that you put Balls Mahoney over because he's been on television for the last week or two and it would do more good to help establish somebody that's going to be there from week to week. The other train of thought is that Masato Tanaka is pretty awesome, even if he's not going to be a regular performer for the new ECW. And really, how much good is Balls Mahoney going to be in the long run anyway?
Winner: Masato Tanaka
Bayani Domingo: Um…Balls. The dude's name is "Balls". I dunno, I think I gotta pick the Asian dude on principle alone on this one. Plus Tanaka jobbed to Mike Awesome last year so I guess beating a guy named "Balls" should be payback enough, right?
Winner: The guy not named after what Traci Brooks is tucking in
Grayson Hamill: In a statement I will never live down: I like Balls, I can never see enough of Balls, it would be great to see balls bouncing around against someone from Japan. Somebody save that so you can ruin the Domingo-Hamill ticket in the 2032 elections.
Winner: Balls Mahoney
Julian Williams: Is this even on the show? Goddamn WWE and their gay ass shirt. Which reminds me, I've gotta order that shirt. Balls and Tanaka seems like a weird matchup, but I guess it could be pretty good if Tanaka goes all crazy ass Japanese motherfucker on us and damn near kills himself like last year. Ummm, let's say Balls since he'll be fulltime and Tanaka is going to be more of a part-timer. And it gives me another chane to say balls. Heehee.....balls.
Jeff Small: How come the only memory I have of Tanaka is of him jobbing constantly?
Winner: Balls Mahoney
Leonard Hayhurst: Rumors have it that Tanaka might be signing with ECW. Mahoney was always a cult midcarder. After last year I say Tanaka goes over
Winner: Masato Tanaka
Meehan: Tanaka jobbed last year and looked great in the process. Balls is good, but hardly a world-beater, so if I'm the ECW brass, I'd let Tanaka get his win back here.
Winner: Tanaka
Stuart Carapola: I really don't care, but with Axl more than likely done with the company before even starting, Balls needs to do something as a singles. I don't believe Tanaka's going to be a regular, so I expect Balls to go over.
Winner: Balls Mahoney
Justin Pelletier - My first venture into the wrestling zone and I have to predict a Ball Mahoney match! What lousy luck. I never got the interest in that guy. Tanaka on the other had rules.
Winner: Mahoney (he IS a full time member)
Dan Zurbruegg: I've got to assume Tanaka wins, considering the fact that he put on the best match at last year's card, and is just more of a draw period. Hopefully they can sign him to a full time contract and get him to work many of the shows.
Winner: Masato Tanaka
Steve Sullivan: Last year I would have went with Tanaka given he is probably the more talented wrestler but since ECW is it's own thing now, you have to promote the talent you're going to be showcasing fulltime. Having Balls lose to Tanaka and then Tanaka never showing up again would give Balls a sort of David Young look. Also, since Axl Rotten seems to have already been S-Listed, Balls needs to develop some sort of story and credibility as a singles guys with the fans.
Winner- BALLS! (huh huh, I said Balls 4 times, huh huh)
Super Crazy & Tajiri vs. The FBI
NOTE: This match also has not been officially advertised by WWE
Stephen Randle: Tajiri! In an odd piece of history, I was the only one to choose Guido to win last year, and was rewarded by watching him job out fairly quickly. Woo. There's more upside in having Crazy and Tajiri win, I think, but will the lack of Sinister Minister hurt a possible Tajiri-Whipwreck reteaming?
Winner: Super Crazy and Tajiri
Larry Csonka: I say again, nothing like having your match announced via T SHIRT to set the world on fire. It will rock to have Tajiri back on my TV for the show and this match could rule. There will be two other men in the corner of Crazy and Tajiri, they are Mikey Whipwreck. This should rock and I will be pleased.
Winner: The FBI, minus emo fag Vito. VIVA MAMALUKE!
Ari Berenstein: It wouldn't be ECW without an iteration of these guys in some sort of match. I'll be happy to see Tajiri back--his personality is actually sorely missed. No word on if Vito will wear a dress in this match...maybe he should get on the horn with Perry Saturn for some words of wisdom on that front.
Winner: Super Crazy and Tajiri
Mathew Sforcina: No Tracy Smothers? What's the point?
Winners: Super Crazy & Tajiri (Mikey-ferance)
Andy Clark: Tajiri and Crazy on the same team? Oh dios mio! I'm not a big fan of the FBI but since neither Tajiri or Super Loco are going to be permanent fixtures in ECW I say give it to the Italians.
Winner: FBI
Gavin Napier: I'm not thrilled about this match. It's cool that Super Crazy and Tajiri (and Whipwreck?!) are being reunited, especially for a match against the FBI. But since you're already cross-branding this thing so much anyway, why not make it the Mexicools vs. The FBI? Or better yet, why not the Mexicools vs. Tajiri and Whipwreck vs. The FBI? I know Mikey just ain't what he used to be, but neither are a lot of these guys. But, we have what we have. I would imagine that Super Crazy is going back to Smackdown, whereas the FBI will be sticking around to win the ECW Tag Team Titles. So, on that notion, I'll pick them.
Winners: The FBI
Bayani Domingo: Which war was it that the Mexicanas and Japanese teamed up to battle the Italians? Or was that ‘Stratego"?
Winner: FBI, Via Danza-ference. WHO's the boss now Bitches!!
Grayson Hamill: No idea who the FBI is going to be made up of (Nunzio & Vito or Guido & Mamaluke), but Mikey Shipwreck will supposedly be in Crazy & Tajiri's corner, so....
Winner: The FBI
Julian Williams: This should be a really good match and it'll be good to see Tajiri spit his man mist in other dudes faces again. Wait, that didn't sound right. Fuck it, take it as you want it.
Winners: Super Crazy y Tajiri
Jeff Small: So are the Mexi-cools full-time ECW wrestlers? Just Super Crazy? What about their feud with the Hooligans? Questions, questions, questions. Regardless, the team of Crazy and Tajiri is only for one night so there's no sense in having them win. Let's see if ECW can build a better tag division than Raw/Smackdown. It's really not that tough.
Winner: The FBI
Leonard Hayhurst: Odd cross promotional thing going on here. Super Crazy and Tajiri I bet get a crazy pop and with 'heels' going over later most likely I'll take them here.
Winner: Crazy and Tajiri
Meehan: This should be a great match. Even though it's effectively the same match as last year's contest (plus the paisan, of course), these guys can really go when given the opportunity, and they all are thoroughly experienced in an ECW environment. Should be good times, and I'm thinking that a Mexicools win (plus an obligatory stage dive or something to that effect) will really get the crowd fired up.
Winners: The Mexicooooooooooools
Stuart Carapola: Probably going to be a decent match, but total filler. I'm going to go against Vegas odds and say that Tony Mamaluke will make it through a match without some kind of injury, but the foreigners go over.
Winners: Super Crazy & Tajiri
Justin Pelletier - This should be a very solid match. I love Tajiri and Crazy is an exciting worker. The FBI on the other had are a stable that not only has roots in ECW but have WWE exposure. That will get them the duke.
Winners: The FBI
Dan Zurbruegg: I'm really looking forward to this match; don't ask why. I'm a huge fan of Super Crazy, Tajiri, and Nunzio. Hopefully this will be nothing but high flying and fun. Super Crazy and Tajiri will win, just because they are the bigger names and Tajiri isn't a regular.
Winners: Super Crazy & Tajiri
Steve Sullivan: So is this Vince's idea of ripping off the World Cup? We get a Mexico and Japan alliance as they take on the Italians. I want to say that if Vito is involved in this match with the FBI, then the FBI probably won't win, especially if he comes down in a dress again. Super Crazy is rumored to be headed to Raw at some point and Tajiri isn't exactly full time. But we have to have some sort of upset on the show!
Winners- The Mexi-pans
Edge & Mick Foley vs. Tommy Dreamer & Terry Funk
Stephen Randle: Even with the title matches, this is the centerpiece of the show. Strangely enough, I think Mick actually wins most of his matches against Funk, but that's probably irrelevant at this point. I had thoughts of Edge going to ECW, especially with his spot as "second heel on Raw" being taken by Orton, but then I remembered: Edge has a title shot in two weeks, and Triple H is turning face. That's not to say the Spirit Squad won't take top heel position, but still...he does have the title shot.
Winner: Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk
Larry Csonka: This match has some decent buzz around it, and the promo work has been good. Dreamer has done some Indy dates, but I can't vouch for him being in "top ring shape." Edge has been money lately, so we have that going for us. Foley has been far from active, but he'll step it up because these guys are his friends. Funk is a mess and shouldn't be wrestling anymore, as much as that pains me to say as a huge Funk fan. But with all that against it, I think there will be some magic that night and they'll pull out something memorable.
Winner: Dreamer and Funk
Scott Slimmer: This is easily my pick for MOTN. We know that Edge and Foley can work well in a hardcore atmosphere, and I think it's insane to bet against Dreamer and Funk's ability to perform on a stage like this. This match isn't going to be about workrate and stamina and conditioning. It's going to be about accepting the fact that you're going to need a skin graft and a blood transfusion afterwards. This is probably going to be Terry Funk's last match (I know, I know, the phrase "Terry Funk's last match" is a complete oxymoron, deal with it), and I have to believe that everybody involved will bust their ass to make it something memorable. That being said, Edge is the only active wrestler of the bunch, so he should probably pick up the win to maintain some semblance of credibility.
Winners: Edge & Mick Foley
Ari Berenstein: Somehow Foley always seems to draw Terry Funk in these kinds of situations...I wonder why? Anyway, Foley has come through more times than not when it really matters and Edge is really just hitting his peak of greatness. Dreamer and Funk...well...it will nice to see them for a while, anyway. Now hit that that "Man In The Box" soundalike music so I can mark out again!
Winner: Edge and Foley (Dreamer and Funk get some heat back on Foley and Lita afterwards)
Mathew Sforcina: This is an ECW PPV, to start the new ECW. Hence the anti-ECW guys have to lose here. And after all, Foley does have a soft spot for ECW, and for his idol, hence he'll go all out, as will Dreamer. Funk will give what he can, and Edge...is the wildcard, but here's hoping he liked ECW too.
Winners: Funk & Dreamer (Funk pins Foley with a moonsault)
Andy Clark: This should be GRUESOME. I kind of expect Foley to turn face after this match and congratulate Dreamer and Funk only to have Edge spear him setting up Edge-Foley II, but I think there will still be some steam with this heel Foley (whooo!) In any event, the Team ECW should get the victory and hopefully Terry Funk will retire for good.
Winners: Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk
Gavin Napier: This match will be atrocious. There's no way for it to be good. Edge is mediocre on his best days, and Mick's best years are nearly a decade behind him. Dreamer wasn't a great wrestler when he was a wrestler, and Terry Funk is OOOOLLLLDD. But, the match will have plenty of heat, just because the ECW fans will want Adam Copeland dead. Ditto. Anyway, I would imagine you'll see copious amounts of plunder, lots of bloodshed, and more than a little debris around the ring when all is said and done. There are four matches on this card that are important to ECW. They need to win at least two of them. I can't envision them winning two, I can't envision them losing one, and then there's this. Somewhere along the line, Foley and Edge are going to stop getting along, and it'll be a win for the Heart and Soul of ECW.
Winners: Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk
Bayani Domingo: Anyone else here smell a swerve?
Winner: Funky Dreamers. Um…Dreaming of Funk. Uh… EC ‘dub guys.
Grayson Hamill: OK, the WWE has to get a clean win or two here. They're trying their damnedest to get Edge over as hardcore, and Funk and Dreamer are both shells of what they once were. There is not a single chance in hell that Edge & Foley lose cleanly in what may be MOTN.
Winner: The guy who's been called a hairy prostitute and the guy that's just dating one
Julian Williams: I've been digging the heel Foley mainly because we've seen him as such a kiss ass, suck cock babyface for so long. It's nice to see him get in touch with his EVIIIILLLL side again. This match could either be a clusterfuck or surprisingly good so I'll hope for the latter and pray that Terry Funk makes it out of this match alive. Seriously. Go to church and light a prayer candle fuckers.
Winners: Tommy Dreamer & Terry Funk
Jeff Small: Oh man, this match is going to be nowhere near as good as Foley's promo on Wednesday night. Sure he promised lots of pain, but I doubt he meant in the form of this "eye-sore". Three of the four participants are retired and the other is going to just heel it up Larry Z style until he gets a sneaky pin on Dreamer, the ulitmate JTTS.
Winner: Edge and Mick Foley
Leonard Hayhurst: This is probably the highest profile match that pure ECW guys will be able to go over in. Edge and Foley honestly don't seem to be into the feud much, although Mick cut a killer promo on the WWE vs. ECW special. Just the way it's been built I think Dreamer and Funk should go over.
Winners: Dreamer and Funk
Meehan: On the one hand, Foley and Edge have been working their asses off to sell this match (and this PPV) - but on the other hand, I don't see the title matches going ECW's way, so the company might need to job a WWE star or two here in order to give the new brand some credibility. Look for a hard-fought ECW victory, perhaps with a Queen of Extreme to secure it for team Dreamer.
Winners: Funk & Dreamer
Stuart Carapola: Yes, this is being called an ECW PPV, but we need to remember that it's being put on by WWE, and they're not going to have one of their headliners jobbing to what may be perceived as an old man and a glorified indy worker. So as usual, it'll probably be Foley taking the fall.
Winners: Funk & Dreamer
Justin Pelletier - This match is really gonna stink up the joint as far as ring work. When 3/4 of a match can't really go you're in trouble and when the final 1/4 is Edge that's even worse. Emotion and storytelling on the other had will be awesome. The WWE's version of hardcore has to go over here because ECW needs some strong heels to get it off the ground.
Winners: Edge & Foley
Dan Zurbruegg: I honestly can not get a feel for this match. Logic tells me that two of these men are old and way past their prime, and one of these guys hasn't wrestled much for years. But the other part of me says that all four men will give it their all and put on one hell of a hardcore match. Should be interesting. I can't see Foley and Edge losing, though, as they have much more credibility and are part of the brand the WWE actually cares about.
Winners: Mick Foley & Edge
Steve Sullivan: This should be an excellent match with Funk and Foley tearing each other to pieces. I don't expect to see Edge go all crazy as he did at Wrestlemania but what I do expect to see is a burning table or two! With Dreamer splitting it right in half!
Winners- Mick Foley & Edge (Spear Through Burning Table)
Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton
Stephen Randle: You know, I was really going to try and cut back some more in the wake of last week, but then he goes and does it to himself. Well, if anyone would know about making success fail, it would have to be the fresh-off-suspension Dorkboy, who probably got moved over to Raw with the intention of having Triple H keep him in line backstage again. Meanwhile, we've got an ECW match involving two guys who've never officially set foot in the promotion as active wrestlers. I understand the reasoning, but dislike it just the same. And I have to pause to wonder: why did WWE feel the need to make a Samoa Joe parody character when they already have a guy who has better pure wrestling credibility, equal intensity, and likes to break people's ankles?
Winner: Kurt Angle (he's better than Joe, it's true, it's damned true)
Larry Csonka: This has the potential to be the MOTN. Orton will have his working boots on, as he wants to impress coming off of his suspension. Angle also wants to prove that he is the man and can go in that environment. One of two things will happen. Angle will win to kick off his ECW run in a huge way, or an ECW alumni or new star will cost him the match to set a new feud and give Orton some momentum for his return. I'll go with the latter.
Winner: Randy Orton
Scott Slimmer: Oh dude, dude, dude… This could easily turn into a disaster of absolutely monumental proportions. Getting the ECW faithful to accept Angle as one of their own has always been a dicey proposition, and having Angle face off against Orton isn't going to help things in any way, shape, or form. I could easily see the crowd turning on this entire match in a way that will totally eclipse the shitfest thrown at Lesnar and Goldberg a couple of years ago. This could have been Angle vs. Benoit… or Malenko… or even the Sandman, but instead we get a match that has "WWE" written all over it. Could the match itself be good? Absolutely. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure that the real story here will be the crowd reaction, not the in-ring action. Anyway, I'll assume that Angle will pick up the win to build some momentum for his run in ECW.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Ari Berenstein: Hey I don't know about anyone else, but I'm glad that Kurt Angle is FINALLY going to be wrestling FOR E-CEE-DOUBLYEW (false Enthusiasm work every time)! Orton, not so much. Now where's the crucifix so we can make Kurt out to be even more of the hypocrite. Kidding, Kurt, just Kidding (get it? KKK...subliminal wordplay hahaha. Whatever). Should be a great match if the crowd doesn't turn on it...bur that would be quite appropriate given the assbackwards booking of most of this pay per view.
Winner: Kurt "Mr. EC F'N W" Angle
Mathew Sforcina: Both can brawl, Angle represents what ECW wants to be, Orton will cause a near riot, and there will be much interference, starting with Big Show and working up. And people claim this isn't ECW?
Winner: Kurt Angle (Ankle Lock X Infinity - 1)
Andy Clark: So Orton's on Raw now, huh? Makes a lot of sense. I'd love to see Batista come out and absolutely destroy these two SmackDown posers/deserters, but I doubt that will happen. This one is a toss up as neither man can afford a loss. By the way, Kurt Angle isn't anymore of a hypocrite than all of the old ECW fans. They prided themselves on being underground, extreme, hardcore, and inoffensible. And then Raven goes and does something that is completely within the scope of his fictional character and the fans get pissed? Oh yeah, they're hardcore OK. Fuck off, you hypocritical sheep.
Winner: Randy Orton (followed by a severe ass kicking by Angle)
Gavin Napier: The Legend Killer wants to kill an entire federation? Not likely. He wants to beat Angle? Not likely. This is one of those four matches I was talking about. The one I can't envision ECW losing. Orton's going to school here in order to help establish ECW, and more importantly, ECW's Kurt Angle.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Bayani Domingo: The ‘new face' of ECW can't start out by getting' a ‘facial' from Randy the wonder douche. If WWE knows what's good for themselves they make Randykins job on his first match back to keep his ego in check.
Winner: Kirk Angel, TM Chris Jericho
Grayson Hamill: Fact - Randy Orton is coming off a suspension. Fact - rumours are that his attitude has not changed and his punishment may not be over. Fact - Angle will be one of the primary draws for ECW. Conclusion?
Winner: Kurt Angle
Julian Williams: Now we're talking baby. This is the match I'm most looking forward to which makes me as un-ECW as possible, but I dont give a damn. I've wanted to see this rematch since Kurt "broke" Orton's ankle and I thought the chance of seeing it was gone when Kurt got drafted to ECW, but now we get a chance to see it. I think Kurt's going to take Randy to the EXTREME and show him what the new, ECW Kurt is all about.
Winner: Kurt Angle and his mouthpiece
Jeff Small: I hope the ECW mutants chant "He's hardcore" during one of Orton's chinlocks. Outside of that, expect Orton to be punished for his child-like behavior backstage in the form of being squashed by ECW Angle.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Leonard Hayhurst: If Angle is going to be the new face of ECW then he defintely needs to go over a guy he's jobbed out already six hundred times. I would like to see Sly Turkay debut here. Big Show interference could also come into play.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Meehan: This one's interesting. On paper, Angle needs the win because he's the flagship import to the new brand. Then again, you've got Orton looking like a chump if he comes back to RAW only to lose to the same guy who "put him on the shelf" (wink) in the first place. Tough call, but in the battle of "bury a smart-assed returning superstar" or "bury a lucrative new brand," I'm gonna have to guess that Vince is savvy enough to let Angle walk away a winner in this one.
Winner: YOUR Olympic Hero, Kurt Angle
Stuart Carapola: Good thing they got all this ECW talent on the show, huh? This is probably going to be used to get Angle's new shooter character over, so I expect Angle to go over here and look like a total badass in the process.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Justin Pelletier - Nothing says ECW quite like Angle/Orton. Angle has to go over in order to keep ECW looking strong. Plus this will probably be Orton's final bit of punishment.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Dan Zurbruegg: I can't get a good grasp on this match, either. Give Angle & Orton 15+ minutes, and at the very least it will be extremely entertaining. But I don't see it lasting that long, for whatever reason. Look for Angle to win withing 6-7 minutes.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Steve Sullivan: Orton's back on Raw? Angle's on ECW? Does Smackdown have a death wish? Good to see Orton back on any stage but it's a shame he was moved over to Raw. Orton could have been World Heavyweight Champion probably up until next Wrestlemania had WWE played their cards right. This will be another typical Orton/Angle match that they put on after No Way Out. We all know the excitement that Kurt Angle can put out and if you think back hard enough, you know what a great match Randy Orton can put on under extreme rules (Wrestlemania XX vs. Foley) I'm really curious just how extreme Angle can get and I think we'll find out on this show.
Winner- Kurt Angle
Tazz vs. Jerry Lawler
Stephen Randle: Hey, I've been waiting for Taz to choke a bitch out since he was disappointingly limited to a two minute appearance last One Night Stand. Taz will no longer be the guy who causes a ring full of wrestlers to clear just by appearing in it, but I'm pretty sure he can take Lawler. Plus, ECW finally gets closure on that whole "Lawler attacking ECW" from all those years ago.
Winner: Taz
Larry Csonka: A lot of people hate this match, but as fans of both I think it will be decent. Lawler always is up for a match and Tazz has a lot to prove and will step up to the best of his abilities for the ECW fans, so I expect him to work very hard. Tazz wins here to shut up Lawler.
Winner: Tazz
Scott Slimmer: My gut says go with Tazz. It's an ECW show (at least in theory, if not execution), and one of the all-time ECW greats should go over in what is most likely his final match. I guess I'm saying that there's absolutely no reason for Lawler to pick up the win. However, I'm pretty sure that I said the same thing when Lawler faced Gregory Helms at New Year's Revolution, and we all know how well that turned out. I'll hold out hope that somebody (coughHeymancough) knocks some sense into the booking team, but this one really could go either way.
Winner: Tazz
Ari Berenstein: Whoa boy...back in time once again we go, but this time not to the sunny days of ECW's past but to WWE's summer of 2000...when Tazz was feuding with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler about of all things...the announcing on WWE programming. And look how far we've come. NOW THIS FEUD WILL COME TO A BLOODY END! Just make sure to bring back the candy dish of doom (!) for even more of a nostalgia kick. Anyway, I was a Tazz mark back then, I'm a Tazz mark now, and Jerry Lawler has always been good for the money, so this should be ok if its kept short (and that's not a height joke Tazz, so don't worry).
Winner: Tazz ("I'M GONNA CHOKE YOU OUT!")
Mathew Sforcina: So, let's see...JR, Styles, Stevie, Jazz, Mickie, Trish, Gangrel, Luna, Vince and Steve Austin. With or without the mass interference, this will still be entertaining. But there's only one way this can end.
Winner: Tazz (Tazzmission.)
Andy Clark: First a New Age Outlaws-Dudley Boyz rematch and now this? I don't know why everyone has their panties in a bunch, I thought their match at SummerSlam 2000 was pretty good. For continuity's sake Tazz should hit Lawler with a candy jar. I just hope we don't have Tazz on commentary for the rest of the night because I don't feel like hearing him run his mouth and detract from the matches again.
Winner: Tazz (with two Z's, bitches!) and hopefully both men will shut the hell up
Gavin Napier: Tazz. I guess. I don't care. One is old and the other is fat and crippled. So, yeah. Chokeout.
Winner: Tazz
Bayani Domingo: In a shoot fight Tazz shoves a bottle of Viagra up Lawler's a$$ and suplexes him non-stop for a half hour straight and then beats him to death with his own "Scepter". Then again, Vince owns both companies so who knows right?
Winner: Tazzz, the extra "z" is for ZESTY!!
Grayson Hamill: Lawler beat Shane "Gregory" Helms earlier this year and I believe his contract only calls for one guaranteed win each year. ECW has to go over big on Sunday, so....
Winner: Tazz
Julian Williams: Taz chokes bitches. DEAD.
Winner: Taz aka Fuck your other "z" McMahon
Jeff Small: Man, did Lawler deck the shit out of Tazz on Wednesday. Now that's how to throw a punch. Funny how this is the rubber match of a feud that started six years ago and led to Tazz becoming an announcer. Tazz won't be losing here in hopefully a short match.
Winner: Tazzz
Leonard Hayhurst: Lawler sucks the sweat off of a dead man's balls. It would just be like him to lobby to put himself over. Which is great, because if he wins the fans will tar and feather his ass and ride him out of there on a rail. Logical booking says you put Tazz over.
Winner: Tazz
Meehan: Short, sweet, and to the point - Taz should most definitely go over here in Benoit/Orlando Jordan Summerslam type fashion. Maybe even have this one early in the card to start things off on a hot note.
Winner: Taz
Stuart Carapola: Is this an actual match or just a "fight"? Either way, Lawler isn't a real WWE wrestler, so Tazz will probably stand tall.
Winner: Tazz
Justin Pelletier - The current Jerry Lawler is the one I miss. He is such a great heel I actually want to see him get his ass kicked. Not in the HHH is over exposed and I hope he loses way. In the god he's an asshole kind of way. Taz better choke a bitch out.
Winner: Taz
Dan Zurbruegg: I can not stand Lawler, so I can't wait to see Tazz choke the hell out of him.
Winner: Tazz
Steve Sullivan: I wonder if Lawler will pull out the old fire gag he used to do when he wrestled in the South. Eh, who cares. It's an ECW Pay Per View. Let's choke someone out.
Winner- Tazz
John Cena (c) vs. Rob Van Dam - WWE Championship
Stephen Randle: Why do my boys have to fight? I had an interesting theory involving the actual reigning ECW champion interfering to cost RVD the match, but then I remembered he's got a PPV match next week with TNA. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I'd put the odds lower. Anyway, lots of people are going to say that RVD can't possibly lose this match, but they obviously haven't been paying attention to his entire WWE career. Besides, if you need a way for Cena to win without "causing a riot" (because ECW fans aren't sheep who do things like boo John Cena because it's "smart" to do so, right? Right?), there's always an option that was available to ECW, and I'm pretty sure he's got a contract. Three words: Referee Bill Alfonzo.
Winner: John Cena
Larry Csonka: I think that we all hope that wee see the "old" RVD here at ONS, as well as an energized Cena for this match. They have a big task against them, as Cena has never had a great match with anyone not named Jericho, Angle, HBK or HHH and RVD's track record is spotty as well. In the end, RVD wins the title in disputed fashion. He grabs the MITB briefcase after tossing down the WWE title and pulls out the old/new ECW World Title as he, Paul E and the ECW locker room celebrate. This also sets up perfectly for a feud if Rhino leaves TNA, since he never lost the ECW title.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Scott Slimmer: WWE did a great job of making sure that last year's MOTB storyline really paid off in the end, and the only way for that to happen this year is for RVD to win the WWE Championship. Much like I predicted for Angle vs. Orton, this match is going to be all about the crowd reaction, but in this case I have to believe that the crowd will add to the match instead of detract from it. RVD can still put on a great show when properly motivated, and I can't think of better motivation than winning the WWE Championship at an ECW show. In addition, when you take into account that Cena has been made to look INVINCIBLE over the course of the last year, a victory by RVD would lend alot of credibility to both RVD and the new ECW.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Ari Berenstein: And now some of the tougher picks. Really, we've known Vince to be crazy ever since he decided to book himself and Shawn Michaels as the next big feud of the year. Then there was that whole "God" thing... but can Vince McMhaon really be THAT off his rocker to have one of his two heavyweight titles change hands and become some sort of ECW title? I just don't see that happening...but on the other hand if BOTH Cena and Mysterio retain over ECW guys, ECW looks like a bunch of pussies...okay. Cena and Mysterio win. Just kidding. Here's what we'll see: RVD pin Cena, but with Cena's foot on the rope. Then some WWE official will come out with VKM in tow to reverse the call, creating a near riot like state of affairs which leads to some show closing WWE vs. ECW madness.
Winner: John Cena (official reversal)
Mathew Sforcina: Oh boy. Congratulations WWE, you've booked yourself into a hell of a corner here. If Cena wins, then a riot will occur, which while a wonderful visual is not something you can really get away with (unless you own the building). And RVD winning does raise many questions. So, we have the only real option. ECW has to claim RVD won, and WWE has to claim Cena won, since RVD winning the belt and either throwing it down or making it the ECW title is way too much of a boost for ECW that Vince will allow, although it would set up Cena/Edge nicely for the Vacant belt. So, instead, Cena knocks the ref out, FU, Vince runs down with Nick Patrick and he counts a fall. Heyman then knocks both Vince and Nick out, and RVD wins. You end the PPV there, then on Raw say WWE says Cena won, ECW says RVD won, everyone's happy. Except those hoping for a clean ending.
Winner, and NEW/STILL WWE/ECW Champion: Both of them (What I said above)
Andy Clark: Well, at least now I'll be happy no matter the outcome. Either I get to see RVD finally win a championship or I get to see the hopes and dreams of all the old ECW fans crushed. Honestly, I don't know which would be more fun. No matter what RVD should be a World Champion in the new ECW and now that this brand will be on the same level as Raw and SmackDown that title will actually mean something.
Winner and STILL WWE Champion: John Cena (making RVD tap out to the STFU!) Here's hoping the cameras stay on long enough to see Cena knock the fuck out of any angry fans that try and enter the ring
Gavin Napier: In a perfect world, RVD goes over to one of the loudest eruptions in wrestling since Nikita Koloff turned face back in the mid-1980's. He gets his long overdue ECW World Title, and moves into a program with Kurt Angle. This isn't a perfect world, though. This is McMahon-land. And if you think that the spinner belt is going away that easily, you're sadly mistaken. The Money in the Bank winner won the belt last time around, they won't go 2 for 2, unfortunately. I'm guessing someone from ECW will cost RVD the match, setting up the first high-profile feud for the new old brand.
Winner: John Cena
Bayani Domingo: Uh… I dunno, seems like if you win the MitB match you should get something right?
Winner: RVD in HD, feel the difference
Grayson Hamill: I'm with the others calling for a Dusty finish where both guys can claim they won. It was a staple back in the territory days.
Winner: Depends on who you ask.
Julian Williams: Well they really fucked the neighbor's dog with this one. You can't have RVD lose clean otherwise the fans will be ready to riot, but you can't have Cena lose clean because the value of the WWE title goes to shit if RVD re-christens it the ECW title. Therefore expect some kind of screwjob ending with no clear winner so Cena can keep the WWE title and RVD can cry foul and be annointed as ECW's champion.
Winner: Nobody
Jeff Small: With RVD already back in full-ECW mode (posing between moves), this match won't be pretty. However, the crowd at least will make things interesting. I can't wait to hear the crowd response when Cena locks RVD in the STFU. Of course, it won't be as loud as when RVD pins Cena to win his first ever title and launch the new ECW brand.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Leonard Hayhurst: I think there is a slight possibility that RVD wins, if only to drop the belt back to Cena shortly thereafter. A controversial finish is most likely so Heyman can declare Van Dam the winner and ECW champ and Vince can declare Cena the winner and still WWE champ.
Winner: draw, no contest, sports entertainment finish of mass proportions
Meehan: Oooh, tough call. Does Cena lose THE biggest prize in WWE's legacy, or does he incite a riot in the Hammerstein Ballroom? The optimist in me says that maybe Cena will win the hardcore fans over with a strong showing (ala Rocky IV), but the realist in me says that neither RVD or Cena are capable enough workers to pull off a miracle like that (heck, I don't even know if Benoit or Eddie could have made a Cena-acceptance-turn work). In the end, though - regardless of who gets cheered and who gets booed - I think it only makes sense to see Cena go over in this one (after all, they're gonna hate him already, no?), and I think it's only logical that we see some shenanigans to keep the belt around his waist for a while yet to come. Otherwise Vengeance is left without a main event, and - well - that's never good for business.
Winner: Cena, but not cleanly.
Stuart Carapola: I see this going one of two ways, either Van Dam will win the title and then throw it down Shane Douglas style, or John Cena's going to go over in a screwjob just to further drive a wedge between the WWE side and the ECW side. But if they've put him over Jericho, Angle, Michaels, Christian, Edge, and Triple H, I don't see him going down to RVD here.
Winner: John Cena
Justin Pelletier - Allow me to indulge in a little fantasy booking. I see RVD looking great and about to win until CM Punk comes out and costs him the match. That would allow 1)the belt to stay strong 2) give ECW a reason to make its own belt 3) give ECW a fresh, over heel at the top of the card.
Winner: Cena
Dan Zurbruegg: You've got to assume that Cena pulls this one out with Vengeance two weeks away, but I don't see the point of RVD losing, either. RVD should get all of the offense in this match until something crazy like run-ins happens. Should be a good contest nonetheless, as RVD will surely be motivated.
Winner: John Cena
Steve Sullivan: This is tough to call. I've been saying Cena was going to lose his title for the last couple of Pay Per Views. And yet I just can't see Vince having HIS WWE Title, be called the ECW World Title. But at the same time, I can't see Van Dam wasting his Money In The Bank contract and not getting a well deserved title reign. If Vince has a WWE vs. ECW Vengeance card under his sleeve, I think it's a big mistake. Head to head was a success because ECW was ECW and Vince had no influence on the show. Raw, Smackdown, and ECW need their own titles in order to be their own brands. I look for a run in from a new ECW talent, possibly an OVW Callup *hint hint* cost RVD the match and get the first true ECW feud started this Tuesday.
Winner- John Cena
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Sabu - World Heavyweight Championship
Stephen Randle: You know, even TNA wasn't crazy enough to throw Sabu into title matches. Well, in the last couple years, anyway. This could be a decent little match, but if WWE thinks Sabu should start off as ECW champion, we've already got several problems.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Larry Csonka: This will either be a ton of fun, or a complete cluster fuck. Sabu had had some good matches in TNA, so he has that going for him. But with Rey injured and Sabu's unpredictability, it is anyone's guess. Rey wins here, as there is no reason for him to lose.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Scott Slimmer: This could certainly be a fine little match, but in my mind I'm still stuck on what could have been. If JBL had beaten Rey Rey for the title back at Judgment Day, then we could have had JBL vs. Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka for the World Heavyweight Championship. Seriously, those three guys would have KILLED each other. Alternatively, we could have had JBL vs. the Blue Meanie with run-ins galore (mostly just to ensure that Meanie makes it out alive). Anyway, I've already picked RVD to win the WWE Championship, so it would be pretty darn silly to expect Sabu to win the World Heavyweight Championship on the same night. However, I think there needs to be some sort of cataclysmic "big bang" to really launch the new ECW, and having two ECW legends win both of WWE's most prestigious belts on the same night would do just that. Would it be risky? Yep. Would it be unwise? Possibly. Would it be a moment we'll remember for years to come? Oh hell yeah.
Winner: Sabu
Ari Berenstein: This will either be one of the most exciting matches ever seen in quite a while, or one of the most train wreck matches ever seen in quite a while.
Winner: Mysterio
Mathew Sforcina: A train-wreck or entertaining, Ari? Dear boy, why limit it? It'll be both.
Winner, and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Rey Mysterio (619 to Dime, since he'll be playing heel here)
Andy Clark: Despite the fact that Rey seems to job more frequently than Lance Cade nowadays (actually, since WrestleMania Cade may have a better record) there is no way the homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death-defying Sabu will win the World Heavyweight Title. Hopefully we'll see a good match as this really is a dream match up.
Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Rey Mysterio
Gavin Napier: Sabu winning this match is even less likely than RVD winning his. There is, of course, the possibility of Rey joining ECW. Well, no there's not. There's nobody left on Smackdown, sine Orton, Angle, and the Big Show have all left. Wow...that show really is depleted, aren't they? No Orton, Angle, Big Show, Batista, or JBL. Amazing. Anyway, this one could be even worse than Sabu vs. Cena was, which is saying something. Sabu just can't keep up at this point, and shouldn't be expected to. He's obviously just around for the payday, which I don't mind. There'll be a 619 and a dropping of loose change, maybe with a chair added in for good measure.
Winner: Rey Misterio, Jr
Bayani Domingo: Sabu is held together with duct tape. Rey should remain strong until King Booker takes the title from him. I dunno, I guess the real question is: why can't the Mexicans and Lebanese just be friends?
Winner: Rey Mysterio ULTRA, half the credibility of a regular champ but none of the carbs.
Grayson Hamill: ECW needs to be kept strong, but Rey really can't lose the title here. I think we'll see Rey conjure the spirit of Eddy and cheat to win using one of his old tactics.
Winner: L'il Rey-Rey
Julian Williams: Please, for the love of Jesus, make Rey win this match. I'm tired of seeing the World Champion get jobbed out in 9 out of the 10 matches he fights in. I don't want to see a screwjob ending, I dont want to see a draw, I want to see Rey win 1, 2, 3 after a long fought and exciting match. Is that so much to ask for? I didn't think so.
Winner: Rey Mysterio. Please.
Jeff Small: I personally love Rey's new character: he loses every televised match, but wins at the PPV. I expect no difference here unless the WWE wants to pull a TNA and give a midcarder the World Title. But there's no need for that when the possibility of Mark Henry: World Champ is lurking around the corner.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Leonard Hayhurst: No way in hell Sabu wins. Some have mentioned that Smackdown doesn't matter, but it's so weak that having them lose the Heavyweight Title would be a real crushing blow. I think this could be a really great match.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Meehan: Rey's looked like a chump for weeks now, and last year at ECW One Night Stand he was laughed and booed out of the building for being "too WWE" for the place. A world championship around his waist won't help the little guy's ECW-cred, and I think you're gonna' see plenty of ECW fans crying for Mysterio blood when everything's said and done. But in a move that's sure to piss off net fans and hardcore aficianados alike, I just can't see Vince giving away EITHER of his company's titles to this "trial-run" product yet - so expect a Mysterio victory by night's end.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Stuart Carapola: Ten years too late. This should still be a good match, and with the way they've been booking Mysterio for the last several months, it wouldn't shock me to see him look like an overmatched weakling here to really get Sabu over. However, I just don't see them giving Sabu the big belt, even though some people have pointed to it as the way ECW's World Title will be created. Also, couple a screwy ending here with a screwy ending in the Cena-RVD match and we build even more friction.
Winner: Rey Mysterio, Jr
Justin Pelletier - Short of surprising everyone and having Sabu be the new ECW's first champ instead of RVD, I don't see how this match is good for anyone from a character standpoint. Rey has been jobbed out a lot and recently lost to RVD. If he goes over Sabu then Sabu looks weak. If Sabu wins; well then he's the champ! I'll go with a surprise.
Winner: Sabu
Dan Zurbruegg: Should be match of the night, with high spots galore. I can't see Mysterio losing, though it's not out of the equation. The WWE has been willing to make their champ look vulnerable, and with Booker T rising through the Smackdown ranks and Batista returning shortly, Mysterio should lose the belt in the near future anyways.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Steve Sullivan: Smackdown is dead in the water. With Orton now apparently on Raw's roster, JBL out, Angle Out, Taker Gone, and so on, who's left to fight Rey? Oh wait, that's right. Batista is coming back. Whew, for a second there, I was actually about to book a title change. What was I thinking! Rey will say no to ECW, lots of run ins will happen but Rey, as always will find a way to 619 himself through a chair and get the pin on Sabu.
