Tremendous Tirades: ECW - Hardcore History
Posted by Larry Csonka on 08.30.2004
In the spirit of the birth of ECW 10-years ago, I bring you the history of hardcore!
Welcome to the latest installment of Tremendous Tirades! As usual I am your party host, Larry Csonka. We have covered the career of Mick Foley, and a hot night of Southern Style Wrestling with Smokey Mountain. Next, we will dive into something a lot of people enjoyed…E-C-W! I though long and hard of what tape or DVD to review, as to give as many people something to enjoy as possible. So, for this edition, we will look at ECW: Hardcore History! (This is the VHS version btw)
*** August 27th is the 10th anniversary of Shane Douglas throwing down the NWA Title, and Eastern Championship Wrestling became EXTREME Championship Wrestling. I thought this would be a good time to look back and I hope you all enjoy. ***
Joey Styles welcomes us to ECW’s Hardcore History by doing a voice over of a cool intro video. He says they will show us Hardcore History, at it’s finest.
Styles says ECW had an important part in wrestling’s history, as many big players passed through there.
Public Enemy is at ringside, and they say they are coming for Benoit and Malenko. They drop Johnny Grunge, and then attack Rocco Rock, who is in a wheel chair! They bring Grunge in the ring, and Benoit unloads with 4 NASTY Chair Shots! Sabu and Taz run in to make the save and that starts the match. Crowd loves SABU, and Taz has LONG HAIR! It has been forever since I have seen him with long hair! Taz and Sabu are in control early, as Taz goes suplex happy on Benoit, and Sabu hits a “CRISP” looking Asai leg drop. 3 minutes on all 4 still brawl, and Benoit and Malenko hit NASTY brain busters on Sabu, then a nice variation on the Dooms Day Device. They booking in ECW was amazing, because as I watch Taz even now, I never thought of him as small. Damn there is some head droppin, Benoit took a NASTY German right onto his head. 6 minutes in, Sabu is down, and Malenko takes apart Sabu’s leg. Paul Heyman has 911 take Taz to the back, so Sabu is on his own. They crowd gets really behind Sabu, and Benoit and Malenko show awesome teamwork. We then get some classic Sabu, as he hits plancha’s to both sides of the ring, as well as an Asai moonsault to Malenko and suicide dive to both. The booking was great here, because of Sabu being the “Suicidal, Homicidal…” you get the point. We are close to 10 minutes in, and it has been non-stop action, and the crowd has not died down at all. The finish is a nice sequence, as Sabu tries to come back, he sets a table across the top rope in the corner, as Paul E. drops Malenko with a phone shot. But it was all for not, as Benoit would POWER BOMB SABU off of that table on the top rope for the pin @ 10:30. New Tag Team Champions. Benoit gets on the stick and says ECW has REAL Champions, and tell Public Enemy that they can have a shot anytime they want. They come back and start to beat down the New Champs. 91 carries Taz back to the ring to check on Sabu, then 911 tosses Taz onto all 4 on the floor! Sabu is up and climbs the ropes, and dives onto Benoit and Grunge. Mean while in ring, Paul E. has 911 Choke Slam the Ref as the crowd chant “ONE MORE TIME”. So he does it one more time.
Larry’s Thought’s: Very exciting match from bell to bell…and after. Benoit and Malenko looked really strong, but Taz and Sabu stayed strong as well, with the injury angle and a Top Rope Power Bomb, how could the losing champions look weak? Just good booking of a well laid out and executed match. * Great Match *
Joey Styles is back to explain that good tag team wrestling was a BIG part of ECW’s history. He puts both teams over big.
We have the garden-variety chain link cage here. The Gangstas take their time to the ring, instead of their usual charge. There are some dudes around the outside of the cage, wearing black hoods holding weapons…meanwhile New Jack and Mustafa circle the cage and talk smack as the Eliminators wait. Saturn jumps New Jack on the outside, and here we go. Mustafa and Kronus pair off, and we are IN THE CROWD! As usual, the music is still playing, and the ECW crowd is totally happy, and handing weapons to the guys. A little more than a minute in to the action, Saturn re-enters the cage, and dives onto the other 3 men FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE, spurring the “E-C-Dubbya” chants! New Jack and Saturn go weapon happy, as Kronus and Mustafa fight on the inside, and @ 2:44 into the match, the music ends! Saturn and New Jack climb back in, and Saturn low blows him, and finally all 4 are in when Saturn hits a HUGE clothesline off the top of the cage to Mustafa. As we hit the 5-minute mark, everyone is bleeding…THAT’S HARDCORE! Crowd is hot still, as the men getting busted open just add to the heat. At 6:30 into the match, Saturn goes UP TOP OF THE CAGE AGAIN for a splash on MUSTAFA! Then New jack off the top rope with a trash can to Kronus, and more “E-C-Dubbya” chants! NEW JACK HAS A FORK! DAMN…poor Saturn. 9-minutes in, Saturn hits a Macho Elbow FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE onto New Jack, and Joey Styles responds with “Macho who?” Saturn tries again, and eats a trashcan! New Jack leaps off the top rope with a PC Keyboard, and Saturn drop kicks it into his face! This is all brutal! 12 minutes in, New Jack drives the fork into Kronus’s head, and we get a SICK shot of it, as Kronus is bleeding a TON! New Jack climbs the cage to get a guitar from a masked man, and he gets NAILED WITH IT and drops to the mat…IT’S THE FRANCHISE~! He shows the Triple Threat sign, and watches on. Saturn to the very top again…FROG SPLASH ON NEW JACK! HE KICKS OUT! Kronus holds Mustafa, and Saturn to the top again, as he leaps; New Jack throws a trashcan at him! Now he is back up? Saturn up top again…New Jack throws another trashcan at him, and he FALLS THROUGH A TABLE TO THE FLOOR! “HOLY SHIT” and “E-C-Dubbya” chants! INDEED! Douglas checks on him…Mustafa with a power slam on Kronus and New Jack hits him with a splash while holding a chair for the win @ 14:52. Douglas is pissed! The Gangstas celebrate. Kronus and Saturn argue over the loss. Douglas plays peacemaker, and flashes them the Triple Threat sign.
Larry’s Thought’s: Very exciting match. Once again, bell-to-bell, the people were nuts for this match. The only complaint from me is that they really overused the top of the cage spot, and that they played “no-sell hotel” the whole time. But for what it was, which balls to the wall hardcore action, it was a hell of a lot of fun. Shane Douglas also added some nice drama to the last few minutes * Good Match *
Joey Styles says one of the wildest Tag Matches was next, 2-of-3 falls, DOG COLLAR MATCH!
Match #3 Raven and Stevie Richards vs. The Pitbulls (Dog Collar Match, 2-of-3 Falls, ECW Tag Titles, Sept. 16th, 1995, Slightly-Clipped)
If the Pitbulls win, they are the tag champs, if they lose, they have to SPLIT UP! I will refer to the Pitbulls as “PB 1 and PB 2”. Beulah is out, and says Stevie broke his arm, and she wants it 2-of-3 falls to be “fair”. So it is Raven going alone. He is chained to PB 2, and is being hung over the ropes, and PB 1 runs to the back. Nasty chair shot, and punches with the chain, Raven is in trouble early. PB 1 is back, and he has Stevie, HE DOESN’T HAVE A BROKEN ARM! SHENANEGINS! Back in the ring, Raven sets up a table, and PILEDRIVES PB 2 ON IT for the first pin fall @ 2:10! We start back now, as all 4 brawl, and PB 2 is bloody. Richards is a bloody mess as well. PB 2 brings in another table…and sets it up. PB 2 to the top, they have Richards…SUPER BOMB THROUGH THE TABLE! Richards is pinned @ 4:17. “E-C-Dubbya” chants! Begin. We get clips of the first and second fall, and we get back to live action. They are on the outside, and Stevie wears the “Crimson Mask”. Nasty chair shot by Stevie…Raven and PB 2 back to the ring. PB 2 goes for another table, and slides it in. Stevie and PB 1 fight on the outside, as the table gets set up. REF BUMP. THE DUDLEYS HIT THE RING! DANCES WITH AND DUDLEY DUDLEY! They set up the Pitbulls…and Raven and Richards give them SUPER BOMBS! BUT THE PITBULLS NO SELL THEM! DOUBLE DDT BY THE PITBULLS! They set Dudley Dudley up…SUPER BOMB! More of the same for Dances with Dudley! PB 2 sets up another table…SUPER BOMB GONE BAD FOR RAVEN as he hits the EDGE of the table!!! (IT WAS SCARY) RAVEN KICKS OUT! Crowd chants for more tables, as they reset the unbroken table. Raven pulls out the EITHER RAG! Styles says “Take that crap to Smokey Mountain!” Raven goes up top, LEG DROP ON PB 2, then again through a table! PB 1 in control of Richards…and crotches him on the top. Raven is unchained from PB 2, and saves Stevie. Beulah and Richards ex-girl friend catfight, and Raven DDT’s HER! PB 2 gets stretchered out. Dreamer in the ring, and chains himself to Raven…THEY GO AT IT! Knee drop to the nizzies of Raven, DDT to Raven…and pins him? @ 14:50. Alfonzo is out, and says “NO WAY DADDY!” He says he didn’t allow the 2-of-3 falls…and Dreamer wasn’t legal, which means he will not allow the pinfal to stand. He says the Pitbulls can’t continue, and therefore lose. Todd Gordon is out, and shoves Alfonso, then says the MATCH MUST CONTINUE! Big Dick Dudley CHOKE SLAMS TODD GORDON! Fonzie said the Choke Slam was legal tonight…uh oh…911 is out…CHOKE SLAM TO FONZIE! Pitbull #2 is back out…goes up top…Dreamer, 911 and PB 1 set Raven up to him…AND STEVIE ON TOP OF RAVEN…DOUBLE SUPER BOMB! THE PITBULLS WIN THE ECW TAG TTLES @ 20:00! The crowd goes CRAZY!
Larry’s Thought’s: They did a little clipping between falls, but nothing major to miss. They all worked EXTREMELY HARD in this match, with some really crazy bumps; IE. the Super Bombs through tables. Raven was just that, Raven and did everything you expected him to do. They also did a great job here of continuing the long Dreamer vs. Raven feud, so that is a plus as well. Once again the ECW crowd was HOT, and it really made for a fun match. The finish is a bit screwy, but made sense with all of the interweaving stories. * Superb Match *
Joey Styles in 1996, Shane Douglas was the most hated man in wrestling as he broke Pitbull #1’s neck, which set up this match.
Pitbull #1 is out, on a turtle shell and halo style neck brace. Styles is in the ring to interview them. Joey calls him Gary…and asks how bad he is hurt. He says as of 5:15 today, his doctors said he has to retire. He calls Douglas and Francine pieces of shit! He says there is NO WAY he will give up wrestling. No matter what, he love wrestling in ECW, and says they are the best fans in the world. A Pitbull never gives up. As long as PB 2 is there, their legacy will NEVER DIE! He says he may never get them back…but he loves ECW. Crowd chants, “He’s got heart and GARY!” Styles says PB 2 will get a TV title shot…TONIGHT! Cue Douglas, who comes to the ring laughing.
Douglas is afraid to get in the ring…Styles says Douglas made ECW, then left for WWF, and was humiliated! Douglas was in GREAT shape in this match. PB 2 works the neck early on, with a brain buster and a hangman’s neck breaker, as the crowd chants, “Break his neck!” If you have ever seen Douglas in his ECW prime, he really emulates a Flair-like style. Around 4 minutes in, PB 2 really works the neck more, spurring more “Break his neck!” chants. They brawl to the outside, where PB 2 takes a chair from a fan and LEVEL Douglas. Crowd is VERY hot here. When Douglas takes control, he unloads with 3 big chair shots. Douglas sets up a table at the 6-minute mark, but PB 2 fights back. Another chair shot for Douglas, and the crowd is loving it BIG TIME! Gotta love the ECW crowd, as Douglas uses a fan’s crutch for a comeback. 8-minutes in, they are back into the ring, and PB 2 is back in control, until Douglas moves, and PB 2 goes through the ropes and through a table. PB 2 tries to fight back, but Douglas works his neck now. Douglas taunts PB1 with a chair, and then goes back to PB 2, who is busted wide-open BIG TIME! Douglas tries to pin him 2-3 times, but only gets a 1 count! Douglas uses Francine’s bracelet like a pair on Knux, and only gets a 2 count. Tries a chain for the same result. A chair shot gives us more blood, but PB 2 KICKS OUT AGAIN! Crowd going CRAZY FOR PB 2! 13-minutes in, and PB 2 wants more! Baby face comeback now, POWER BOMB and Douglas escapes. Crowd even HOTTER NOW! Douglas tries to punch it out, but PB 2 will have NOTHING of it! The ref checks on PB 2, and Francine gives Douglas another chain. Douglas sets him on top, and he unloads on him…Belly-to-belly…NO SOLD, again…and Douglas gets the duke @ 15:35. Joel Gertner steps on PB 2 as he announces the winner; the ref tries to stop him, and SUPER BOMB TO THE REF! He has Gertner now…SUPER BOMB!
Larry’s Thought’s: EXCELLENT BOOKING! The match was far from a “classic”, but they told the story. The crowd was MEGA HOT all through the match, and it made it a lot of fun. That was the thing ECW did so well, a match didn’t have to be a ***** classic, all you needed was solid booking, and a hot ECW crowd, ad this had it. Well done, as Douglas played the Flair-like heel to perfection, and Pitbull 2 was the unstoppable force. * Good Match *
Short video package with some sick bumps and cool moves is shown.
Joey Styles says Lucha Libre was made famous in the US by ECW (I disagree, when Worlds Collide and WCW did that.) with guys like Rey, Juvi and Psychosis.
Match #5 Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guererra (2-of-3 falls, 1 hour time limit, March 9th, 1996)
This is their last ECW match. Rey wants to shake hands, but Juvi spits at him. We start with mat work, and then Juvi grabs a leg lock. Some nice reversals into a reverse STF by Rey. Lots of nice counters in the first 2 minutes, including a sweet Northern Light by Juvi. They try the test of strength, then while holding on, do some rolling reversals…nice! Juvi then tries a tilt a whirl, but Rey gets a RANA for 2. Rey tries for the first dive of the match, but holds up, and gets a split-legged moonsault off the middle of the ropes, and there is our first “E-C- Dubbya” chant of the match. Back in ring, Juvi hits a SICK looking brain buster for 2. Juvi gets a Spring Board SENTON on Rey for 2! Juvi wins fall #1 @ 5:20 with a NICE dragon suplex. Rey ducks outside to recoup…and gets a drink form a fan, and is back in. Rey hits a RANA for 2 to get his mojo back, and chops Juvi down. Juvi goes to the apron, and Rey gets a SICK RANA FROM THE APRON TO THE FLOOR! “E-C- Dubbya” chant #2! The ref leans over to check on Juvi, and Rey SPRINGS OFF OF HIM AND NAILS A PLANCHA! Back in ring now…Rey gets a moonsault for 2. Juvi gets a short arm clothesline to take control back. Juvi runs and springs to the top…DROP KICK COUNTER BY REY! Gut-wrench power bomb evens things up for Rey @ 9:00. They take a breather, as the fans have a chance to sit down. Juvi takes Rey down, and then sets him on the top, and DROP KICKS HIM to the floor! Juvi dumps him over the rail, and then nails an ASAI MOONSAULT OVER THE RAIL TO REY! “E-C- Dubbya” chant #3! Springboard spin kick to Rey gets Juvi 2. Springboard somersault leg drop misses! Juvi back in control, to the ropes…Juvi tries a RANA, but Rey catches him into a POWER BOMB for 2! Press slam into a fall away by Juvi gets 2! Head scissors to the floor by Rey. On the floor, Juvi dumped over the rail by Rey, CHAIR SHOT BY REY! SPRING BOARD SOMERSAULT PLANCHA BY REY OVER THE RAIL! “E-C- Dubbya” chant #4! They brawl through the doors to the outside…JUVI POWER BOMBS HIM ON THE HOOD OF A CAR! Rey up…RANA OFF THE CAR TO THE CONCRETE! They start to make their way back to the ring…the fans chant for tables, and Rey sets one up. Rey up top, Juvi tries a top rope Razor’s Edge…REVERSAL BY REY INTO A RANA and THAT is all she wrote @ 15:53! Rey takes Juvi to the table…POWER BOMB THROUGH THE TABLE! Then Rey throws a chair at him! “E-C- Dubbya” chant #5!
Larry’s Thoughts: WOW! That was honestly my first viewing of this match, and that kicked all kinds of ass. Rey and Juvi busted their Asses, and really used the ECW style to their advantage. That is one of those matches that you don’t even need a good story, just let them go out and entertain. You could tell it was their last appearance with ECW, as they left it all in Philly that night. * Tremendous Match *
Joey Styles says that Raven vs. Dreamer was the most famous feud in ECW’s history. This time, Raven threw a roadblock at Dreamer, the Bulldozer himself, “Prime Time” Brian Lee.
Match #6 Tommy Dreamer vs. “Prime Time” Brian Lee (Scaffold Match, Oct. 26th, 1996.)
Not only is this a scaffold match, but also the ring is filled with TABLES 3 high to, and no pun intended, BREAK the losers fall. Lee is on his way to the ring, and Dreamer jumps him with a trashcan! They brawl in the crowd to start. Lee is destroying Dreamer with chairs and all kinds of PLUNDA! Dreamer is busted wide-open 2 minutes in. The crowd loves it, and throws ORANGES? At Lee! HAHA! They work their way back to the ring, and Lee crotches Dreamer on the railing. Lee takes a cookie sheet from a courteous fan, and nails Dreamer with it. Power slam to Dreamer on the concrete floor. Finally 5 minutes in, Lee has climbed the scaffold. Dreamer follows. Man that looks shaky…as in very unsafe. Dreamer gets a low blow, and a DDT to boot! Crowd is into it. Dreamer tries to roll him off, but Lee grabs a chain holding the scaffold to stop it. Lee tries a Choke slam, but is blocked…the fight it out as Dreamer continues to bleed. Dreamer gets crotched on a support beam, and looks to be in trouble. Lee kicks away at Dreamer, but Dreamer with a low blow! Crowd loudly chanting for Dreamer! Dreamer punches away, and Lee FALLS @ 8:48! “HOLY SHIT” chants! Joey Styles has an orgasm as he yells OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! A medical crew checks on lee, as Dreamer climbs down to the loving ECW fans.
Larry’s Thoughts: Well, this was what it was. I have seen it before, and my opinion is still the same. It was there. You spend however many minutes building to a bump that could kill a guy, or injure his career. Scaffold matches aren’t that great, as well as dangerous which is why they were dropped for the most part a while ago. As far as getting rid of Lee so Dreamer could get to Raven, it was a superb blow off to the mini-feud. * Just There *
Joey Styles says that was the most fun he had studying history, and thanks us for watching.
Thanks for taking the time to read this installment of Tremendous Tirades. Until next time, I am Larry Csonka and you know you want to be a Zonkamaniac~!
The 411: To be honest with you, I was a bit leery going into this. This was the “Hardcore History” of ECW, but had no Sandman, Funk, Cactus, RVD and limited Dudleys (Bubba and Dvon). BUT, what they did do was focus on the promotions “Hey-day” in the mid-90’s, and it was all good. Rey and Juvi was a great match, not as good as Rey would have with Eddie in WCW (This was more spotty) but a stand out match. Everything else, minus the scaffold match was great, and if you were an ECW fan, this is one for the collection. But get the DVD.
