ECW One Night Stand 2006 Review

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that regularly goes on hiatus more times than Berserk! (A shiny trophy to the man who gets said reference). You never forget your first time, somebody should have reminded WWE of this as they had the bright idea of doing a second ECW One Night Stand despite the feeling of everyone being that the original was so special you could simply not top it. However, Vincent Kennedy Mcmahon knows better than all so here we are for ECW’s One Night Stand of 2006. ECW was waging war with Raw so we have a few different brand vs brand matches, the biggest coming in the form of Rey Mysterio defending against Sabu. The main event of this show is RVD cashing in his money in the bank contract for the chance of being champion as he challenges John Cena. It may not be the original but can it still be good? Let’s find out!

Opening Segment

Heyman opens up the show, the fans eat up the appearance of their messiah. Heyman thanks the fans, the fans thank Heyman. We have a whole beautiful moment going like the old times, Heyman hypes up the show and the new show on Sci-Fi. The old TNN intro plays over while we get set for the first match of the night, nostalgia is firing on all cylinders as we look back on the many storied rivalries of Extreme Championship Wrestling. I am then tormented by Drowning Pool (If there was ever a song that I wish WWE lost the rights too).

Tazz vs Jerry Lawler

The feud from 2000 that made Tazz a joke in WWF is back with Tazz as the hero this time around while Lawler is playing himself with his real-life thoughts on the company. This wouldn’t be the first time Lawler would be in ECW though, having appeared on pay per view for the company back in 1997. Lawler is in full heel mode, Lawler slaps the shit out of Joey Styles before the match.

Lawler pulls down the strap, Styles jumps Lawler as Lawler is a joke and a dickhead. Lawler looks for a piledriver, Tazz saves Styles with a Tazzmission and this match is over as Lawler has been choked out just like that. Perfect start everything you could want from this match and we got to see heel Lawler in the ring which had not been seen in over ten years in the WWE.

Winner: Tazz over Jerry Lawler via Tazzmission!

Show Joins ECW

Big Show joined ECW after turning on Raw in a battle royal, this took place at a special event where ECW and Raw went to war. Tazz joins Styles on commentary for the rest of the night.

Randy Orton vs Kurt Angle

Angle joined ECW as was welcomed by the fans, both in a kayfabe sense and behind the scenes, Angle vs Tazz in their heydays would have been phenomenal. Orton and Angle had issues going back to Wrestlemania, Angle was side-tracked with Henry before Orton made his mark and decided to take out Angle on an episode of Raw.

Orton keeps away from Angle, Angle goes for a double leg takedown with Orton squirming his way to the ropes. Side headlock takedown by Angle, shoulder block and another takedown by Angle. Orton rolls to the floor again, takedown by Angle. Angle paintbrushes Orton, Angle drives his forearms into Orton. Angle takes down Orton like child’s play, Orton grabs the ropes. Angle is begging Orton to apply a hold, side headlock by Orton with Angle mocking Orton. Back suplex by Angle, Angle runs shoulder first into the ringpost. Forearms and stomps by Orton, uppercuts by Orton. Angle tosses Orton to the mat, back elbow by Orton. Two for Orton, hard Irish whip by The Legend Killer.

Knees to the back of the head, Orton tries a reverse chinlock but Angle counters with ease. Orton bites and elbows his way out, choke by Orton. Angle fires up, Orton headbutts to avoid a belly to belly suplex. Orton misses Angle in the corner for a splash, German suplex by Angle. Uppercut war, forearm to the back by Angle. Short-arm clothesline, German suplexes by Angle. Orton reverses the angle slam for an armdrag, dropkick by Orton for two. German suplex by Angle, Angle Slam for two. Orton reverses the ankle lock, Orton neckbreaker for two. Orton measures, Angle blocks but eats an elbow. Orton is on the top rope, crossbody with Angle rolling through for two. Clothesline by Orton, Angle is rolled up for two before Angle trips Orton and locks in The Ankle Lock, Orton taps!!!

Good match, crowd hated Orton so everything Angle did got a major reaction. Angle was a phenomenal talent despite the addictions and problems he had at the time, they had some good chemistry and the false-finishes were good. Angle as a wrestling machine shooter type character would have been awesome, such a shame that Angle would make one more appearance on pay per view and that would be the end for The Olympic Hero.

Winner: Kurt Angle over Randy Orton via Ankle Lock!

The FBI W/ Big Guido vs Super Crazy & Tajiri

The former rivals Super Crazy and Tajiri team up to take on Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke. Tajiri is back for one night only while Little Guido and Super Crazy were part of Smackdown’s cruiserweight division. Mamaluke and Super Crazy begin the match, Super Crazy and Mamaluke trade wrestling holds before Tajiri kicks the face in of Mamaluke. Front chancery by Super Crazy, crowd is going nuts for Tajiri. More nice wrestling between the two before a dropkick by Super Crazy. Hiptoss by Super Crazy, hiptoss and short-arm scissors by Mamaluke. Super Crazy muscles up Mamaluke for a huge slam, flapjack facebuster by Super Crazy. Standing moonsault for two, tag to Guido and Tajiri. Guido avoids the kicks at first before Tajiri decimates Guido.

Tilt-a-whirl into a Fujiwara armbar by Guido, Tajiri makes it to the ropes. Tequila Sunrise by Tajiri, Guido is placed in the tree of woe. Super Crazy has Mamaluke set-up for double low dropkicks. Two for Tajiri, tag to Super Crazy. Mamaluke saves Guido from moonsaults, Asai moonsault by Super Crazy. Big Guido pulls Super Crazy to the floor, Little Guido takes control. Big Guido throws Super Crazy into the ring, Tajiri saves Super Crazy from being pinned. Flapjack by Super Crazy for two, Mamaluke stretches Super Crazy with a camel clutch. Guido nails a middle rope dropkick, Tajiri kicks down Mamalukes and Guido.

Guido attacks Tajiri on the apron, Guido eats a flapjack. Tajiri is on the ring, spinning heel kick with Mamaluke saving Guido. Black Widow by Tajiri, Guido saves Mamaluke. Handspring Back Elbow by Tajiri, superkick by Tajiri with Mamaluke saving the match once more. Double Tarantula spot which was done cleverly with Big Guido being kicked to death. A dropkick floors Big Guido, clotheslines by The FBI. Guido kicks Super Crazy into the crowd, FBI nail Tajiri with a double fisherman buster for the ring. Big Show is not happy about this and Big Show destroys everyone in the ring.

All signs pointed to Tajiri and Super Crazy going over, I am shocked that The FBI walked away with the win, I suppose Tajiri was the only man not under contract for the match so it made sense for Tajiri to do the job. Anyways, the first section of the match was rather boring but once they got down to their signature spots and everything that was fun about their matches, it was fun t watch.

Winners: The FBI over Super Crazy & Tajiri via Double Fisherman Buster!

(WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match) Rey Mysterio © vs Sabu

In what should be a dream match in many ways, it’s Rey Mysterio against Sabu. Both men leave down their chairs to begin the match, drop toehold by Mysterio. Hammerlock by Sabu, they reset with Sabu not happy about something. Both men throw chairs, back drop by Sabu. Air Sabu with help from a chair, Mysterio is drop toeholded into the chair. Mysterio nails a leaping hurricanrana, Sabu avoids The 619 with a low dropkick. Chair to the head by Sabu, Sabu sets up a table between the ring apron and the guard rail. Mysterio is placed on the table, Sabu places the chair. Mysterio dodges and Sabu hits his face off the guard rail. Moonsault by Mysterio for two, Mysterio is on the apron and gets caught by Sabu. Sabu nails a guillotine leg drop for two.

Sabu stomps all over Mysterio, Sabu goes to the floor for another table. Arabian facebuster for two, Sabu goes back to the table on the floor. Mysterio dropkicks Sabu onto the table, Mysterio nails Sabu with a springboard senton through the table. The referee immediately holds up the dreaded X symbol but Sabu looks to continue, two for Mysterio in the ring. Springboard leg drop by Mysterio for two, Mysterio misses a splash and moonsault with Sabu nailing a springboard leg lariat. Triple Jump Moonsault for two, Sabu is sat on a chair, Mysterio misses a springboard senton. Sabu whacks Mysterio with a chair to the head, Sabu leaps from the chair onto the top rope and drills Mysterio with a DDT. The medics are called out and we have a non-finish with both men unable to continue.

Such a lame ending to a match that could have been something special, I think they may have gone home early on account of Sabu’s injury. There is no denying that Sabu could not lift his arm and Nick Patrick certainly showed the dread “X” symbol to signal serious injury. Sabu, being the tough bastard that he is decided to gut it out but it makes for a poor ending to a championship match. If you are so high on Sabu, have him beat JBL I mean how many fans would love to see JBL beaten by Sabu?

No Winner!

Edge/Mick Foley/Lita vs Tommy Dreamer/Terry Funk/Beaulah McGillicutty

Mick Foley joined forces with Edge as they had the greatest hardcore match in history at Wrestlemania and there was simply nobody more hardcore than Edge in his eyes. Foley turned his back on Dreamer and his mentor Terry Funk, Foley cuts a great promo celebrating the alliance and Stephanie Mcmahon as a great leader of ECW. Lita opens her big mouth which brings out Beulah and we have ourselves an intergender six-man tag match.

Beulah and Lita are separated to begin, shoulder block by Dreamer on Edge. Takedown by Dreamer, they trade advantages before Dreamer watches as Edge tags in Foley. Funk and Foley reset the match, Foley gets the shit slapped out of him and Foley talks about leaving. Edge jumps Funk, Dreamer and Edge go to war while Funk and Foley get reacquainted. Dreamer wallops Edge with toys from his trashcan, Funk has Foley in the ring. Edge and Foley are waffled over and over, Dreamer baseball slides a trashcan into Foley’s face. Edge ducks a shot from Dreamer, Dreamer is taken down by Edge. Foley tees off on Funk, Edge has a ladder and Dreamer tastes it to the face. Edge places the ladder in the corner, Edge looks for a spear. Dreamer counters for a hiptoss into the ladder, Funk and Foley continue to wage war.

Funk has the ladder, Funk wears it on his head and takes down everything in his sight. Funk is climbing a ladder, Edge tips Funk off the ladder. Dreamer has Edge for the dreamer driver but Lita low blows Dreamer. Foley kicks Funk to the floor, Foley pulls out a huge barbed wire board. The board is dropped onto Dreamer’s head, Funk trips the two and the board falls onto Edge’s face. Foley is pummelled by Funk and Dreamer before being thrown into the barbed wire board. Funk decks Edge, Foley throws the board at Funk. Foley has more barbed wire which he wraps around his arm. Funk is bleeding everywhere with Foley driving more barbed wire into his eyes, Funk is a bloody mess. Foley boots Funk in the head, the doctors tend to a screaming and wailing Funk.

The fans scream for Sandman, Foley has a barbed wire bat. Dreamer is dismantled as Lita nails a leg drop with the baseball bat on Dreamer’s nuts. Foley has Socko, Socko to Beulah which leads to Dreamer brutalizing Foley. Foley recovers and applies Socko to Dreamer. Mandible Claw/Spear combination by the hardcore champions, Edge grabs Beulah by the hair. Funk is back with a barbed wire bat to make the save, Dreamer low blows Edge and Foley. Beulah is after Lita, Funk smashes Foley and Edge with the bat. Funk has fire, fire does not mean fun for Foley. Foley is smashed and knocked through a barbed wire board by Funk’s madness.

 Edge decks Funk who falls onto Foley and the board, Dreamer has Edge. Dreamer DDT on Edge, Dreamer has barbed wire. Crossface hold using the barbed wire, Lita saves her boyfriend. Beulah has had enough Lita is dragged to the mat and we have a catfight. The two brawl before Dreamer grabs Lita, Dreamer Driver on Lita which that bitch had coming! Dreamer and Beulah pose, Edge O Matic using barbed wire on Dreamer and Edge Spears the shit out of Beulah and pins her missionary style.

What a damn match that was! That had drama, history and a tonne of violence. Great on so many levels, Funk’s comeback, Edge’s douchebaggery, Lita’s cockiness, Dreamer’s redemption. There were simply so much parts to this match where you could say this was awesome, it was memorable and you would not forget it anytime soon. In summation, go watch this match because it is the second time that year that Foley and Edge have stolen the show.

Winners: Edge/Mick Foley/Lita over Beulah/Tommy Dreamer/Terry Funk via Spear!

Masato Tanaka vs Balls Mahoney

Former tag team partners going at it again, Tanaka was carving a huge name for himself in Japan after the closure of FMW with appearances in many independent promotions including Pro Wrestling Zero One. The two begin by feeling one another out before Tanaka drops a flying forearm which Balls counters with a powerslam. Balls jabs Tanaka, Tanaka sidesteps Balls. Tanaka nails a plancha to which Balls nails right hands on the floor. Balls whacks Tanaka with some beer, make it two cups of beers.

Tanaka sends Balls to the guard rail, running chair to the face is dodged, Balls whacks Tanaka. Tanaka drills Balls with a superplex, Balls stops Tanaka on the top rope. Superplex by Balls for two, the two grab chairs which leads to the inevitable. Star Wars with chairs, Balls wins the war with one chair shot and that’s all she wrote.

One of the worse filler matches I have seen in my time, I hope they paid Tanaka handsomely because I would not travel 15 hours on a plane for two superplexes and one chair shot. It was a whole load of nothing, you could have sent out Francine and Dawn Marie with a current Diva if you were going to give us this type of match.

Winner: Balls Mahoney over Masato Tanaka via Chair Shot!

Sandman and Eugene

Eugene comes out to tell of his love for ECW, it does not go well for Eugene as The Sandman interrupts and canes the life out of the young Eugene. Utterly pointless but there has been worse on this show.

(WWE Championship Match) John Cena © vs Rob Van Dam

RVD had a dream: To be WWE Champion. It looked like it was a sure fire thing in 2002 when RVD was the most over man from the alliance and there was hardly a hotter babyface on the Raw brand. RVD did not become champion and was moved over to Smackdown where nothing really materialized for one reason or another. RVD would be injured and side-lined for a number of months which would be for the best as RVD would return as popular as ever and win the money in the bank granting him a WWE Championship match whenever his heart desired. RVD chose to announce the match in advance, choosing his home and ECW One Night Stand as the venue for his championship match.

The stage is set, Cena tries to throw his shirt to the crowd but the crowd respond by throwing the shirt back to ringside. Four times the shirt comes back to Cena, a huge security guard gives Cena the double bird and tells him to go fuck himself. Quite the opening, sets the tone perfectly for this match. Lock-up, Cena pushes back RVD. Cena punches RVD in the corner, hard Irish whip and a fisherman high-angle suplex for two. Shoulder block by Cena, huge kick by RVD which leads to Cena powdering. Brawl between the two, RVD wins the war. Forearms to the face, powerslam by Cena for two. RVD is clotheslined to the floor, double axe handle by Cena off the top rope. Right hands by Cena, RVD nails a moonsault off the steel steps onto Cena. RVD is pushed off the guard rail and onto everyone in the crowd.

Cena punches RVD in the crowd, RVD takes control at the guard rail and delivers his corkscrew leg drop with Cena draped over the guard rail. Slingshot leg drop by RVD, RVD dropkicks a chair into the face of the champion. Two for RVD, Rolling Thunder on the chair. Two for RVD, Cena blocks the split legged moonsault with the chair. DDT on the chair by Cena, two for the champion. Cena wedges the chair in the middle turnbuckle and catapults RVD into the chair. Two for Cena, Cena begins to turn up the pressure. Huge spinning side slam, Cena nails The Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena measures for an FU, RVD wriggles free and nails a corkscrew dropkick. RVD is powerbombed off the top rope by Cena, Cena rolls into a cover for two.

RVD lifts Cena onto the top rope, Cena spills to the floor. RVD dropkicks Cena off the barricade, RVD pulls out a table. Cena trips RVD for an STFU, RVD reaches the ropes. Cena has words with the referee, Cena clotheslines the referee. Cena crotches RVD on the top rope, superplex off the middle rope. Cena rolls out to the floor and grabs the steel steps, RVD is taken down by the steel steps. Cena calls for a referee, two for Cena. Cena looks for an FU, RVD is thrown to the floor by Cena while a man appears with a motorcycle helmet. Spear through the table and it is Edge, Edge has destroyed Cena. RVD rolls into the ring, surveys the scene and decides it is time for a Five Star Frog Splash. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION IN RVD!

The atmosphere for this match was simply brilliant, WWE would not capture anything so one sided until CM Punk’s championship win in Chicago. You know what made this great? Cena, Cena took everything that was thrown at him and played it up, changed up his moves when they said same old shit. Started to break rules, decked the referee, powdered like the heel. Cena did everything to be the perfect pantomime villain, you could not do any better when it comes to this match. A clean win might have been a bit more special but to see someone you truly like win a world championship is a magical feeling. I thought Cena was great, I thought the crowd were tremendous, it was a great way to end the show.

Winner: RVD over John Cena via Five Star Frog Splash!

That was ECW’s One Night Stand of 2006, a good show but nothing compared to the original. The original was about ECW, if a WWE wrestler competed, it was because of their past affiliations to the brand. This had more of a WWE vibe to it with the likes of Edge and Orton, the card was also not as good as the original. No place for Sandman, Sabu in a disappointing match with Mysterio and no familiar faces like Storm, Credible, Jazz, Raven, Rhino etc. That being said, the show did not bore me, there were matches that I thought could have been produced better and segments that we could have gone without but still a very enjoyable show with two great matches in the six-person brawl and the main event. Stand-outs from this show are Edge, Foley and Cena. They brought it all on this night and you have a wonderful moment for RVD which makes me smile even more. Overall, a good show that just could not live up to the original, check it out if you want to see a fun show and RVD’s finest hour in WWE. Thanks for reading and remember: There’s always another night!