ECW Guilty As Charged 2001 Review

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that tweets at worse times than Lana! ECW’s final pay per view, it’s ECW’s Guilty As Charged 2001! Headline by the return of ECW to The Land of Extreme, RVD faces long-time rival Jerry Lynn while Steve Corino defends his championship against Justin Credible and The Sandman who had stolen the championship. Tommy Dreamer faces CW Anderson in a rematch from the last pay per view and the usual madness from the mid-card. ECW has a chance to go out with a bang, can ECW succeed? Let’s find out!

Jerry Lynn & Cyrus vs Christian York & Joey Matthews

Gertner introduces the tag team he’s managing which is York & Matthews, Da Baldies make quick work of York & Matthews, Gertner interferes foolishly. DDT on the concrete for Gertner, double flapjack by Da Baldies on Matthews. Out comes Cyrus and serious Jerry Lynn, missile dropkick/powerbomb combination by Da Baldies. Lynn Cradle Piledrivers Matthews, Cyrus covers for the win on Matthews. Lynn cuts a passionate promo, Lynn wants to wrestle only in the main event, thanks for that? DUD!

(ECW World Tag Team Championship Match) Hot Commodity W/ Elektra & Hamrick vs Danny Doring & Roadkill ©

These were not the challengers I was thinking of, Doring and Dinero begin the match. Doring talks shit to Elektra, armwork from Dinero. Dinero struts, corner spear and chops by Doring. Right hands by Doring, drop toehold and La magistral for Dinero, two for Dinero. Superkick by Doring, exploder suplex by Dinero. Tag to Money, hiptoss. Some grinding from Money, Roadkill is behind Money.

Eye poke and falling slam, slingshot elbow drop. Lancaster lariat of lust on Money, running powerslam and elbow drop on Dinero. Roadkill misses a corner splash, tope suicida by Dinero. G-Spot Suite on Money, Doring dives onto Dinero. Roadkill has Elektra, superkick from Hamrick. Money nails The Money Clip on Roadkill into the crowd, springboard bulldog by Dinero & Hamrick for two. STO by Dinero, tag to Money. Double hiptoss, double slam for two. Right hands by Money, boot by Doring. Easy Bomb for two, Money tries an axe handle but Doring blocks with a boot.

Dinero dropkicks Roadkill off the apron, headscissors into the turnbuckle for Doring. Neckbreaker for two, Bare-back on Money and Dinero. Hot-tag to Roadkill, clotheslines for both men. Barn Burner on Dinero, powerbomb for Money. Springboard clothesline on Hot Commodity, Elektra distracts the referee. The Jalapeno Popper, moonsault by Money for two. Hamrick clotheslines Money by mistake, Dinero is knocked into Hamrick. Buggy Bang on Dinero for the win.

What a fun tag team match, I will say it again that Doring and Roadkill could have done something more after ECW ended, they were a tonne of fun inside of the ring. They had a lot of great tag team manoeuvres, they were entertaining and Roadkill was freakishly athletic. Dinero and Money were fine but I was hoping for The Unholy Alliance.

Winners: Doring & Roadkill over Hot Commodity via Buggy Bang!

Chris Hamrick W/ Elektra vs Nova

Nova saves Doring & Roadkill, lots of dives and kicks to Hamrick. Elektra distracts Nova, Nova battles back with a shin breaker, dragon screw and figure four before Elektra rakes the eyes. Facecrusher by Hamrick for two, Nova eats a boot to the face. Nova nails a sit-out facebuster, Elektra crotches Nova. Super hurricanrana from Hamrick, two for Hamrick. Right hands by Hamrick, Nova wants more. Rights and lefts from Nova, enzuigiri from Nova. Two for Nova, superkick by Nova for two. Elektra mounts Nova, Nova kicks Elektra’s arm. Hamrick kicks Nova into the referee, crossface chickenwing from Nova. Chetti comes out in a referee shirt, Chetti fast counts Nova. Lou E. cracks a referee with a cellphone. Chetti attacks Spike, Acid Drop on Chetti and a Senton Bomb from Nova. Nova rolls Hamrick into The Kyrptonite Krunch and Nova wins.

Well, it was going grand until whatever the fuck that was at the end of the match involving Spike and Chetti, no time for that kind of crap at this stage in ECW. You want to talk about failing to build new stars? What about Nova? Nova could be another major star in ECW, Nova is being wasted with segments like this.

Winner: Nova over Hamrick via Kryptonite Krunch!

(I Quit Match) CW Anderson vs Tommy Dreamer

They tie-up, rolling to the floor. They brawl, Dreamer suplexes Anderson on the concrete, ouch for both men. Anderson pummels Dreamer, Dreamer hotshots the arm of Anderson. Slingshot crossbody for two, dragon sleeper from Dreamer. Anderson hurls Dreamer shoulder first into the turnbuckle, shoulder stunner. Armbar from Anderson, sky high from Dreamer. Transition into a single leg Boston crab, Dreamer smacks a chair against Anderson’s arm. Dreamer smacks the ringbell off Anderson’s head, Anderson avoids an oncoming Dreamer who meets the guard rail. Drop toehold onto the chair, Dreamer is bleeding just like Anderson.

 Anderson shin breakers Dreamer onto the chair, Indian deathlock from Anderson. Anderson smacks the leg with a chair, Dreamer boots the chair into Anderson’s face. Middle rope elbow for Anderson, Dreamer has razor wire. Anderson nails a huge left, towel boy attacks Anderson. Towel Boy cracks Anderson with trays, why is this happening? No clue, Anderson nails a Ferris Wheel on Dreamer. Anderson cracks towel boy with a tray, delayed vertical suplex on towel boy. How am I supposed to take this seriously?

Anderson tries a superkick, Dreamer catches the kick for an ankle lock. Anderson elbows Dreamer, Spinebuster on the razor wire! Suplex onto two chairs by Anderson, Dreamer is sent crashing into a steel chair. Anderson sets up a table, Dreamer catches Anderson on the top rope. Spiccoli Driver through the table, Dreamer grabs the table wire and chokes Anderson crossface style for the win.

Decent brawl, had all the brutality you would want from an I Quit Match, the fans rally behind Dreamer so easily, Dreamer could always be considered the heart and soul of the company due to the amount of pain he would put himself through but also the way Dreamer was so easy to be sympathetic towards, fun match at the end of the day.

Winner: Tommy Dreamer over CW Anderson via I Quit!

Super Crazy & Kid Kash vs The Unholy Alliance W/ Sinister Minister vs The FBI W/ Big Sal

Oh wonderful, they are going to work this match by having a member of each team in the ring at the same time, Mamaluke, Whipwreck and Kash begin the match. Mamaluke hiptosses Whipwreck, Kash botches something. Double underhook suplex, Kash attacks Mamaluke. Shitty stand-off, Tajiri and Crazy are the only ones in the ring. Armdrags and flips, theatrics that make you feel pathetic by comparison, Fujiwara armbar from Guido. Spinning heel kick by Tajiri, Crazy misses a dive. Slingshot leg drop by Whipwreck to Guido, corkscrew senton by Kash to Guido. Mamaluke saves Guido, Tarantula on Kash. Everyone is doing submissions, The FBI stop Crazy’s moonsault.

Crazy tope con hilos onto everyone, Kash says my turn with a corkscrew attack to the floor. Ten punches by Crazy, Kash hurricanranas Whipwreck. Crazy dives onto Tajiri, Tajiri kicks Crazy. Big Sal splashes Kash, Mamaluke covers Kash and the team of Super Crazy and Kid Kash are eliminated from this match.

Mamaluke begs for mercy from Tajiri & Whipwreck, clotheslines and sit-out facebusters with a low dropkick for good measure. Guido is launched off the top rope, Guido is placed in the tree of woe. Mamaluke too, Guido eats a dropkick. Mamaluke avoids Whipwreck, inverted tornado DDT on Whipwreck. Slingshot Sicilian Slice for two, kimura lock from Guido. Snap suplex by Mamaluke, Whippersnapper by Whipwreck. Tag to Tajiri, kicks for The FBI. Steel chairs are wedged between turnbuckles, lawn darts onto the chairs. The FBI reverse a double whippersnapper for a double Fujiwara armbar. Buzzsaw kicks for Guido, mist for Mamaluke and double Tiger suplexes for the win.

If Crazy and Kash are not going to play any real significant part, why have them in the match? If you are going to build around Tajiri and Whipwreck as top heels to Doring & Roadkill, why have them go against The FBI when The FBI are clearly heels? Have The Unholy Alliance beat Crazy and Kash so the two are not cheered, simple booking at the end of the day.

Winners: Unholy Alliance over The FBI via Tiger Suplexes!

(ECW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Steve Corino © W/ Jack Victory vs Justin Credible W/ Francine vs The Sandman (Tables/Ladders & Canes Match)

Before the match, Rhino murders the lower card of ECW because Rhino is the fucking man! Mahoney cracks The Blue Boy with a chair before Rhino comes down for his fun. Gore for Balls, Gore for Diamond & Swinger. Poor Dawn, Rhino Gores Dawn too. Chilly Willy is here, Rhino Gores Chilly Willy. Blue Boy is Gored too, poor Jasmine St Clare. Jasmine gets the best treatment of all, a Rhino Driver from the middle rope, what a bump to take. Fair play to the girl, Rhino is a beast!

Corino and Credible jump The Sandman, Corino throws a ladder at Sandman. Leg lariat using the ladder by Corino, Corino eats the ladder from Credible. Credible stomps Sandman, Credible places a ladder on Corino and uses a second ladder to drive down into the ribs of Corino. Sandman whips Corino into the ladder, bulldog on the ladder by Sandman. Sandman is caned off the ladder, Credible cracks the two opponents with the ladder he’s wearing on his head. Sandman climbs for the championship once more, Corino stops Sandman. Corino & Credible smack a ladder into Sandman’s balls. Sandman is whipped through a table, Credible is dropped onto a chair by Corino.

Low blow by Corino on Sandman, Sandman canes both Corino and Credible. Credible is tossed to the floor, Sandman places a ladder against the ropes. Suplex for Corino, Sandman drops a ladder on Corino. Sandman climbs the ladder and the ladder breaks, sending Sandman crashing to his own doom. Credible controls the ring, stomps and kicks to Corino. Corino is dropkicked off the ladder by Credible, Sandman is climbing a ladder before being tipped over by Credible & Corino. Sandman is straight back on his feet, Corino catapults Credible into the ladder. Old School Expulsion is blocked, That’s Incredible. Francine hurricanranas Sandman, Sandman pulls out a massive ladder.

The belt is escaping the grasp of Corino and Credible, Sandman canes everyone down off the giant ladder. Credible and Corino bulldog one another through a table, Sandman is left alone and Sandman pulls down the championship. Credible and Corino shakes hands with Sandman, Da Baldies attack but Corino and Credible clear house. Gore to Sandman, Rhino goads Sandman into the championship match. Gore through the table, Sandman kicks out! Rhino Driver through a table, Sandman kicks out again. Another Rhino Driver and we have a new champion.

I just do not understand the booking of the TLC match, you have Corino who appears to be your top babyface but you book him so awkwardly, Corino was teaming up with Credible and heeling it up throughout the match, what is the point of Corino winning the championship if you do not even believe in the man? You want to talk about poor character development? Francine went from fan of Stevie Richards to Pitbull mistress to The Head Cheerleader to standing beside Tommy Dreamer after years of wars to turning affectionate towards Raven as Raven would often protect her to being passed around and being with the champion for sex…

Sandman winning the belt does not do much for me, Sandman was arguably the most popular babyface left due to RVD leaving and Corino’s odd and quirky booking but Sandman is not going to draw, Sandman cannot main event, it’s a shit-show like every match Sandman has, the tip of the iceberg was Sandman falling from the ladder without any attacks from Credible and Corino. Rhino’s win is different, it had been building and it looks like if they had strong enough babyfaces they could build to RVD vs Rhino, RVD would have drawn for the company I am sure, it was all about building credible challengers but for ECW, they did not know who they would have week in and week out so how can you plan ahead when you don’t know what day it is?

Winner: Rhino over Sandman via Rhino Driver!

Rob Van Dam vs Jerry Lynn W/ Cyrus

RVD comes out, looking to face Rhino. Lynn says fuck that and makes the match between RVD and himself. The duo go through their usual spots and dodges, it is all very hardcore heaven 1999. More nice counters, crossbody from Lynn. Spilling to the floor, brawling on the floor. Guard rail moonsault from RVD, rights and lefts from Mr. Pay Per View. Corkscrew guillotine leg drop from RVD, Lynn counters a suplex. Military press slam with moonsault by RVD, middle rope moonsault for two. Lynn nails a massive shoulder block from the middle rope, RVD is bleeding from the mouth heavily. Stomps and kicks by Lynn, RVD elevates Lynn to the apron. Guillotine leg drop by Lynn as RVD misses a shoulder thrust, RVD hits the floor hard as Cyrus and Lynn hug.

Brawling by the guard rail, Lynn plants RVD on the concrete. Security rough up a fan, two for Lynn in the ring. Sunset flip by Lynn out of the corner, two as both men trade pins. Low blow by Lynn, botched small package for two. Kick by RVD, step-through spinning heel kick. Rolling Thunder for two, RVD dropkicks the chair into Lynn’s face. Lynn sunset flip powerbombs RVD onto a chair for two, German suplex by Lynn for two. Tornado DDT by Lynn onto a chair for two, RVD nails a springboard thrustkick. Five Star Frog Splash misses, Oklahoma roll for two. Gertner DDTs Cyrus, Lynn has a chair. Van Damanator, Gertner assists for The Van Terminator. RVD wins the final pay per view match for ECW.

A fitting end when you look at it, despite all the hardship and problems the company faced, they had matches the people wanted to see and these two were just magic in the ring when it came to wrestling. RVD and Lynn were probably the best wrestling-wise rivalry in the company, RVD the biggest star in the company standing tall, a brightspot in all of the darkness surrounding the company. I will spare you any more dramatic quips, this was two wrestlers with great chemistry doing their best spots and sending the fans home happy.

Winner: Rob Van Dam over Jerry Lynn via Van Terminator!

Time to organize my thoughts after watching three years’ worth of pay per views, ECW was revolutionary there is no doubt about it. You can see how much influence the company would hold, The Attitude Era taking its edge from The Land of Extreme. The Franchise inspiring The Game, the lucha-libre style of Mysterio and Psychosis, Malenko and Guerrero ending up on WCW and its Cruiserweight Division. ECW became a breeding ground for the WWF and WCW, Heyman would build up the stars for when the big companies would come calling, all credit to Heyman for focusing on the advantages of his wrestlers and hiding the negatives of the wrestlers in that locker room.

By the time, ECW came on pay per view, I feel they lost some of their lustre. There could have been hotter feuds and bigger angles on pay per view had ECW made it onto pay per view in 95 or 96, a tv deal would have helped the product so much but it was not possible due to the edginess of the product. ECW’s early pay per views I felt were very over-booked and had bad flows even with the likes of Douglas, Bigelow, Funk and Sabu. Dreamer and the other die-hard ECW wrestlers were putting their style on pay per view and it just did not click for me when I was watching these earlier pay per views.

By late 1998 and rolling into 2000, the quality of the shows did improve in my eyes thanks to the work rate of the likes of Tajiri, Guido, Super Crazy, Lance Storm. The series between RVD & Lynn, the likes of Tanaka and Awesome, Super Crazy vs Guido or Tajiri or Lynn, they could always put on a show with the likes of Doring & Roadkill and Nova & Chetti putting on great spectacles in tag matches when given the chance. ECW shows were always fun, there is no doubt about that and these wrestlers made it so easy to sit through these shows.

My major gripes were the fragility of the roster with the big companies always screwing up plans, in the year of 2000 we did not see a conclusion to The Impact Players, RVD winning the championship, Awesome losing the championship or Raven’s love angle with Francine and hatred of Dreamer. Booking of Douglas losing to Taz got very strange, not capitalizing on Taz when The Human Suplex Machine was red-hot, Taz never got a fair shake in the main event with no real challengers, Awesome would have a similar task on his hands and we had the hot-shotting of the championship with Lynn, Credible, Corino and Sandman.

New stars were not ascending the card, they were stuck in purgatory. I mentioned the likes of Tajiri, Guido and Super Crazy, Lynn could be included too. It seemed that no matter how doomed ECW was becoming, ECW would never pull the trigger on any of these stars, a possible reason could be Rhino holding the Television Championship but someday the monster had to fall, some day the fans could not watch Crazy vs Tajiri every single day and moving them all into tag teams was not a quick fix for the problem. You also had the garbage wrestling of ECW, the blood and the guts. New Jack matches, Balls Mahoney matches, Da Baldies and even The Dudleys had a tonne of brawls despite their status as the best tag team in ECW, it was too much of the same and I felt you could only go so far with these type of wrestlers and matches.

In conclusion, this company had one hell of a journey, it was heart-breaking at times and not many of those who filled that locker room went onto huge success, it is a sad tale especially as so many have passed away and struggled with addictions since the company’s closure. For a few years, the company was a revolution, it gave birth to a new attitude among the wrestling scene. Everything became darker and grittier, it was for the best as WWF and WCW phased out the wrestlers who had real jobs, the goons, the clowns etc. But they were badly mis-managed just like WCW and it all came crashing down in 2001 as ECW’s Guilty As Charged! Thanks for reading, I hope you have enjoyed this arc on the website, up next is The Golden Era of The WWF so expect every pay per view and Saturday Night’s Main Event up until Hogan’s departure at King Of The Ring 1993!

ECW Massacre on 34th Street Review

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that keeps kayfabe alive! ECW’s Massacre on 34^th Street The final pay per view for ECW’s 2000, it looks to be a sad end to ECW as the dwindling main event scene gives us a three-way dance for the ECW championship. No real change from last month’s main event, Rhino vs Spike Dudley will be facing one another, Rhino should be in the main event picture but the question is who could actually take the championship off of the monster? Sadly, I don’t think Heyman could answer that question, the card looks as strong as it could at the time but my interest has died down a lot following the last two pay per views. So, can ECW inspire some sort of comeback with these two last pay per views? Could there have been some light in the company’s downfall? Let’s find out!

Swinger & Diamond vs Christian York & Joey Matthews

Dawn Marie will be the manager of the winning team, both teams trade control. Future Shock by York & Matthews, York gets caught isolated in the ring though. Simon Series by Diamond, Swinger misses a diving clothesline and decapitates Diamond. Matthews gets the hot-tag, low blow and neckbreaker combination. Suicide dive by Matthews, York nails a springboard plancha. Swinger crotches York, jawbreaker to Matthews. Simonizer on Matthews, York delivers a sunset flip powerbomb on Diamond. Swinger eats a hurricanrana and elbow drop, The Rebel Yell leads to a win for York & Matthews.

Decent opening tag match, it was at fast-paced and non-stop action from the get-go, I wish they would give teams more time in the ring to show something, I do not know how much you can accomplish in a match such as this when everything is going ninety miles an hour, glad to see Dawn Marie back in a meaningful role, the ditsy one on commentary was not exactly a great way to use Dawn Marie.

Winners: York & Matthews over Swinger & Diamond via Rebel Yell!

EZ Money W/ Hot Commodity vs Balls Mahoney

Side headlock by Money, shoulder block by Money. Hiptoss and armdrag by Mahoney, Balls punches by Mahoney. Mahoney misses his leg lariat, Money dives onto Mahoney with a crossbody to the floor. Money avoids the nutcracker, Mahoney nails a back suplex for two. Clothesline to the floor, Mahoney dives onto Hot Commodity. Money eats a clothesline, Mahoney misses a top rope leg drop. Money Clip for two, Mahoney boots Money twice. Jawbreaker by Money, Money is crotched on the top rope. Superplex for two, Money answers back with Money in The Bank for two. Money misses a senton bomb, superkick for two. Hamrick takes the chair from Mahoney, leaping leg lariat by Money. Hamrick and Dinero attack Mahoney, neckbreaker from the middle rope. Confederate Crunch and a Moonsault for the win.

Balls has been on a massive slide in ECW for God knows how long, matches like this showcase the poor booking that Balls was receiving throughout his tenure in ECW. From garbage brawl matches to being wasted in tag teams, Mahoney had a shit time towards the end of ECW and lost far too much in my eyes. The other guys are yeah, they are fine.

Winner: EZ Money over Balls Mahoney via Moonsault!

Nova vs Julio Dinero

Nova saves Balls from Hot Commodity, Nova sets up a match with Dinero. Sledge O Matic for two, Hamrick nails a missile dropkick. Dinero takes control, moonsault for two. Knee drops for two, STO for two. Clothesline by Dinero, right hands by both men. Nova cuts loose, enzuigiri. O Connor roll for two, chair to the head by Hamrick. Sidekick by Dinero for two, Spin Doctor by Nova. Elektra is in, slap to Nova. Kryptonite Krunch to Elektra, leg drop to Dinero. Hot Commodity interfere, Balls attacks Hot Commodity. Senton Bomb and Nova wins, so short it is hard to rate. DUD!

Winner: Nova over Julio Dinero via Senton Bomb!

(ECW World Tag Team Championship Match) The FBI © W/ Big Sal vs Danny Doring & Roadkill

Finally! My boys Doring & Roadkill earn their opportunity at the tag team championships, Doring and Guido start the match. The FBI have shaved Doring’s locks and Roadkill’s beard. Oklahoma roll by Guido for two, crucifix by Doring for two. Headscissors by Guido, bow and arrow by Doring. Stand-off, takedown and slaps from Doring. Slaps by both men, Mamaluke is legal. Chops by Doring, tag to Roadkill. Bulldog by Mamaluke, deep armdrag into an armbar. Slam by Roadkill, slingshot elbow drop.

Dirt Road Slam to Mamaluke, Lancaster Lariat of Lust on Guido. Big Sal and Roadkill brawl, Mamaluke nails a diving tornado DDT to Roadkill. Double powerbomb on a chair by the champions for two, dragon screw by Mamaluke. Dropkick, stiff kick to the back. Low dropkick by Guido for two, O Connor roll by Doring for two, schoolboy by Guido for two. Russian legsweep for two, tag to Mamaluke. Facebuster by Mamaluke, Sicilian Slice by Guido for two. Keylock by Guido, tag to Mamaluke.

G-Spot Suite by Doring, tag to Roadkill. Clotheslines for the FBI, Barn Burner for Guido. Powerbomb for Mamaluke, baseball slide to Big Sal. Springboard crossbody to Big Sal, slam by Doring. Guido crotches Doring, Doring crotches Mamaluke for a facebuster off the middle rope. Guido nails Doring with the championship, cover for two. Springboard clothesline misses for Roadkill, double Fujiwara armbar to Roadkill. Doring back drops Mamaluke to the apron, superkick and Mamaluke is out. Guido tries a Tomikaze, does not work and one Buggy Bang later we have deserving tag team champions.

Well, you had a backstory with the stipulation of Doring & Roadkill splitting up if they lost, they mentioned this halfway through the match so I was not aware while watching the first half, not much changed knowing this at the end of the day though. I am glad Doring and Roadkill are champions, they worked their asses off to hold those championships but there was no great flow to the match or no long-drawn-out story-telling, it was your typical ECW style match.

Winners: Doring & Roadkill via FBI via Buggy Bang!

Tommy Dreamer vs CW Anderson

Nice to see Dreamer back in action, Anderson had beaten up Dreamer at November To Remember. Anderson spits in Dreamer’s face, Dreamer fires up with right hands and headbutts. Neckbreaker by Dreamer, Anderson begs for mercy. Russian legsweep into a stretch, left punches from Anderson. Armdrag into an armbar, single arm DDT. Anderson rolls out, Anderson’s arm is sent into the ringpost. Shoulder stunner by Anderson, superkick. Dreamer meets the guard rail, Dreamer is crotched on the guard rail. Massive left by Anderson, Anderson smashes Dreamer’s arm using a chair. More left hands, crowd brawling. Dreamer gains control, as Dreamer re-enters the ring Anderson is waiting and attacks the arm. Anderson stomps a chair into Dreamer’s arm, armbar with a headscissors.

Reverse DDT on the arm for two, Anderson wedges a chair in between the turnbuckles. Anderson meets the chair head first, eye rake by Anderson. Dreamer crotches Anderson on a chair, Dreamer nails a middle rope elbow onto Anderson. Dreamer rakes Anderson’s face off the top rope, Anderson nails a left. Anderson has the towel boy, Dreamer uses the towel bot to attack Anderson. Tornado DDT for two, Lou E. shoves over towel boy. Dreamer has Lou E., Lou E cracks Dreamer with the cellphone.

Anderson and Lou E, pose, Heyman comes out and cracks a cellphone over Lou E. Spicolli Driver for two, spinebuster is blocked. Ferris Wheel for two, Anderson has two chairs. Anderson misses an attack, Anderson is in the tree of woe. Low dropkick, piledriver by Dreamer. Dreamer has a table, sidewalk slam on a table. Anderson cracks Dreamer with a chair, superplex on the table. Two for Anderson, Tommyhawk. Table is in the corner, Spinebuster by Anderson for the win.

Far too long, it just kept going and going which is not good when it comes to two guys who were not known for exciting wrestling matches. The Heyman run-in was random, Lou E had been doing that shtick for nearly a year but that does not matter. What matters is this was super long and had no business being so long.

Winner: CW Anderson over Tommy Dreamer via Spinebuster!

(ECW World Television Championship Match) Rhino © vs Spike Dudley

Rhino kills everyone, Spike is in a bad spot. Spike charges Rhino, Acid Drop is blocked. Tackle by Spike, drop toehold and Spike attacks the leg. Forearms by Spike, Spike shoots for the leg before being smashed to the outside. Whip to the guard rail, Spike blocks an oncoming Rhino with a boot. Rhino grabs Spike and drives Spike into a table, Spike eats a chair to the face and is bleeding. Rhino stomps the injured leg of Spike, Spike uses his quickness to take control of Rhino, crowd brawling from the two. Balcony Dive from Spike, they are back ringside.

A chair across the back of the head of Rhino, another chair shot to the head. Back in the ring, Spike gets two. Forearms from Spike, drop toehold from Rhino. Rhino tries a military press, acid drop is countered as Spike is tossed through a table at ringside. Two for Rhino, Gore from Rhino. Spike rolls to the floor, Spike cracks Rhino’s leg with a chair. Spike uses tape to tie the leg of Rhino to the rope, Rhino is helpless. Spike stabs the leg with a chair over and over, Rhino grabs Spike for a rear-naked choke. Spike passes out, Rhino retains.

Wow, that was lame! I was interested to see how Rhino would escape, Rhino awkwardly grabbed him and Rhino choked out Spike with a less than impressive looking choke. Not that the match would firing me up before then, I was disappointed by the lack of Spike diving around and Rhino being a monster. Yeah, this did nothing for me.

Winner: Rhino over Spike Dudley via Choke!

The Unholy Alliance W/ Sinister Minister vs Super Crazy & Kid Kash

Nothing new here, Crazy vs Tajiri because people love watching those two people fight. Crazy sprints to the ring, The Unholy Alliance maul Crazy before Kid Kash comes to the ring as Crazy’s partner. Kash keeps us waiting for the save, right hands to The Unholy Alliance. Whipwreck and Kash start officially, shoulder block from Whipwreck. Springboard sunset flip by Kash for two, Russian legsweep by Whipwreck. Leg drop too, hurricanrana by Kash. Tajiri is legal, Crazy tags into the match. Handspring Elbow has no effect, tilt-a-whirl sideslam from Crazy has no effect either.

Northern lights from Tajiri, monkey flip from Crazy. Hurricanrana by Tajiri, springboard armdrag by Crazy. Tilt-a-whirl armdrag, more armdrags and a stand-off. Kick to the thigh from Tajiri, Whipwreck nails a slingshot leg drop. Straight kick by Tajiri to Kash, Kash & Crazy are laid side by side. The Unholy Alliance uses chairs to crush in their heads and deliver a massive dropkick. The Unholy Alliance have Kash & Crazy in the tree of woe, both dodge the dropkicks. Springboard Asai Moonsault by Crazy, springboard hilo from Kash. Clotheslines and kicks from The Unholy Alliance, Kash knees both members. Corkscrew senton attack, ten punches by Crazy & Kash.

Kash and Whipwreck are in the ring, Crazy has Tajiri on the floor. Low blow for Whipwreck, Crazy dives onto Tajiri. Kash throws Whipwreck to the floor, Kash chokes Whipwreck. Massive kick by Tajiri, roll-through snap slam by The Unholy Alliance. Double gutbuster, double low dropkick. Whipwreck has two chairs in the ring, Falcon’s Arrow by Kash. Whippersnapper on the two chairs, Whippersnapper through a table at ringside. Triple Turnbuckle Moonsaults on Tajiri, Crazy grabs a chair. Crazy is shoved off the top turnbuckle into the guard rail, massive kick by Tajiri.

Tope rope bulldog by Crazy, springboard moonsault for two. Crazy has the chair again, victory roll for two from Tajiri. Sunset flip by Crazy, Tajiri has the chair, wham to the head of Crazy. Tarantula, Kash saves with a dropkick. Tajiri mists Crazy, Whipwreck clotheslines Kash. Kash pulls Whipwreck into the guard rail. Tajiri has a table, Kash is on a table at ringside. Whipwreck gets crotched, hurricanrana through the table. Crazy nails a springboard missile dropkick, tornado DDT by Tajiri. Buzzsaw kicks, scoop slam. Crazy is buried under chairs, a table goes over Crazy. Double Diving Foot Stomp through the table and chairs for the win.

That was quite good! The opening exchange between Crazy and Tajiri is like one giant nostalgia trip, the two are so good in the ring with one another, it is ridiculous. Everyone in the match was allowed to show glimpses of what made them so good and with The Unholy Alliance winning, you could have an awesome tag team championship match with Doring & Roadkill. Easily the match of the night, Tajiri vs Crazy will be one of my fondest memories of ECW.

Winner: The Unholy Alliance over Kash & Super Crazy via Diving Foot Stomp!

(ECW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Jerry Lynn vs Justin Credible W/ Francine vs Steve Corino © W/ Jack Victory

So, we had an awkward finish at the last pay per view with Corino pinning Credible for the championship yet Lynn played it off as if Corino had pinned Lynn and ECW told you that it was a moment we would never forget but the honest truth is this poor main event scene had been a revolving door of characters since 1999, the fans only wanting to accept Sandman or Rob Van Dam. Lynn and Credible start, Lynn has the cane. Shots to Corino & Credible, Lynn is playing more of a tweener than anything else, playing up a storyline that was implied earlier in the year. Lynn nails a headscissors on Corino, bulldog to Credible.

Clothesline by Lynn to Corino, slam and knee drop for Corino. Credible stomps Corino, stomps to Lynn from Credible. Corino fires back at Credible, Lynn clothesline Corino to the floor. Corino is tossed into the crowd and Credible is meant to be elevated into the crowd but hangs on, resulting in a nasty knee smash. Corino meets the guard rail, crowd brawling. Credible powerbombs Lynn for two, is Credible’s new gimmick getting on the mic and talking trash? Sunset flip out of the corner by Lynn, no count. That’s Incredible is countered by Lynn, two for Lynn. Corino has a chair, dropkick by Lynn. Cradle Piledriver on the chair for Corino, Francine saves Corino.

Credible is kicked in the dick by Francine by mistake, Credible punches Francine by mistake. That’s Incredible on Lynn, Lynn lucks out again when it comes to the ECW Championship. Slugfest, Flair flip from Credible and Corino knocks Credible to the guard rail. Miss of a baseball slide by Corino, superkick by Credible. The cameraman shoots Francine as we miss the brawling, Corino gets a ladder, they mess around with the ladder before a drop toehold in the ring on a chair by Corino. We have a damn house-show camera view of the main event, it is driving me nuts. Corino bites the head of Credible, low blow by Credible. Suplex on the ladder, two for Credible.

Crowd brawling, my biggest pet peeve. Guess what? Camera man cannot shoot any of what happens in the crowd, we get fuck all in terms of footage. It’s so sad, Corino takes a cane to the head and falls from a balcony. Back ringside, Corino is in control. They chop one another, That’s Incredible for two. More chopping, whip to the ladder. Corino ducks a splash, Old School Expulsion and the match is over!

Every time it seemed like ECW had a plan for Jerry Lynn, it was left in tatters. Lynn was always on the verge of becoming thee man in ECW but Lynn was always booked so poorly towards the end of ECW. In terms of being legitimate, I think the fans would be far more accepting of Lynn as the top babyface over Corino but that was not what ECW were thinking at the time, there was a tonne of crowd brawling in this one which is so lazy to me, no bumps, just fists and time-wasting, drives me nuts but we saw a lot in this match. So, Corino wins beating Credible again in a rehash of the main event last month, all that has changed in Sandman was not in the match. It lacked story-telling, psychology and a sense of urgency, I felt it was just there, it really felt like they were all out of ideas, so sad to see.

Winner: Steve Corino over Justin Credible via Old School Expulsion!

That was ECW’s Massacre on 34^th Street, a pay per view that was fun at times like ECW can be but really lacked a lot of heart for me. There were matches here and it became more apparent with the last few pay per views but there are matches here that mean nothing, it does not seem all that different from an episode on TNN or hardcore tv. The lack of creativity was there, Rhino vs Spike did not do anything for me, I did not believe Spike would win and the finish was very flat. Same can be said for the main event, it was just there. No twists or turns, just Corino pinning Credible as clean as a whistle. Balls Mahoney and Nova didn’t do much, those matches were so brief. I enjoyed Doring and Roadkill, Tajiri and Mikey vs Kash & Crazy was very entertaining but it all seems so bleak for the company and it’s reflected in the booking and the product. We are down to the last pay per view so do not miss it as I will be wrapping up all my thoughts on ECW! Thanks for reading and remember: There’s always another night!

ECW Anarchy Rulz 2000 Review

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that lets you down more than the servers on Gears of War 4! ECW’s Anarchy Rulz 2000, just three months after this and the company will have folded. No doubt though, they were putting together more entertaining shows than WCW at the time. The main event is Jerry Lynn against Justin Credible, Lynn has been growing steadily for more than a year now, it was his time but could Lynn survive Justin Credible? Also, RVD comes back finally for his TV championship, the championship RVD never lost, standing in RVD’s way is Rhino, thee man to beat in ECW. Will this be a home-run? Let’s find out!

Danny Doring & Roadkill vs Christian York & Joey Matthews

Two tag teams, Doring and Roadkill are the veterans. Doring and Matthews lock-up, side headlock by Doring. Shoulder block, headscissors by Matthews. Dropkick, right hands by Matthews. Low blow by Doring, G-Spot Suite. Tag to Roadkill, Matthews tags York. Side headlock by York, shoulder block by Roadkill. Armdrags by York, dropkick does not work. Catapult by Roadkill, York counters for a leg drop on Roadkill’s face. Falling slam by Roadkill, Matthews comes in for a sidewalk slam. Slingshot elbow drop by Roadkill, Matthews bulldogs Roadkill. Lancaster Lariat of Lust by Doring & Roadkill, Doring misses a dive to the floor.

York & Matthews nail suicide dives, double powerbomb by York & Matthews. Springboard clothesline from Roadkill, running powerslam for Matthews. Danaconda, York nails a top rope leg drop on Doring. Neckbreaker by Matthews for two, assisted suplex and senton form York & Matthews for two. Wham Bam Thank You Mam on York, Barn Burner on Matthews. Powerbomb to York, corner splash by Roadkill to both. Bare-Back to Matthews, Buggy Bang for the win.

One word: Fun! Roadkill & Doring had a tonne of moves that were over with the fans, they had chemistry and complimented one another so well. It’s sad to think the company would not be around too much longer because these guys were so much fun, I find it bizarre nobody snapped up the two. Probably because of that ECW vibe, that would not surprise me.

Winners: Doring & Roadkill over Matthews & York via Buggy Bang!

EZ Money vs Kid Kash

Swinger & Diamond attacked Doring & Roadkill, not much to report there but it should setup where we go next, Cyrus threatens Joel before bringing out Julio Dinero, EZ Money and Elektra. Commissioner Spike Dudley says screw that, Kid Kash will fight Money and if Kash wins, the match will take place. Money eats a headscissors, armdrag on Money. Money is side-stepped to the floor, Hamrick & Dinero eat punches to the face. Elektra distracts Kash, sneak attack from Money. X-Plex by Money, two for Money. Money dives onto Hot Commodity, Kash signals it’s time for a dive. Double springboard splash to the floor, unbelievable balance from Kash. Boot by Money, Money Clip which is a flip into a clothesline for two.

Money applies a billy goat’s curse before the pendulum of pain, two for Money. Reverse chinlock from Money, Kash escapes. Both men chop one another, springboard into a sunset flip, springboard hurricanrana from Kash. Swinging DDT for two, Hamrick trips Kash. Electric Dreams for two, Kash nails a corkscrew senton attack for two. Springboard sunset flip for two, series of pins by both. Money Maker, Elektra distracts the referee. Hamrick is on the apron, Dinero nails an STO. Double suplex thing, Hamrick nails a Confederate Crunch but Kash survives it! Money is crotched on the top rope, Kash wants a superplex. Money low blows and wants a powerbomb but Kash reverses in mid-air for a hurricanrana, Gertner will face Cyrus.

Joel Gertner vs Cyrus

Dinero attacks Kash, Hamrick helps out as they nail a springboard dropkick/powerbomb combination. Spike comes in to help Kash, Dinero superkicks Hamrick by mistake. Acid Drop on Dinero, Money chop blocks Spike. Figure four on Spike, The Sandman is here. Cane shots for all, Elektra begs for mercy. Sandman pours beer down Elektra’s top and shoves Gertner’s face in those big enormous boobs. Crowd goes crazy, Cyrus is yanked in the ring. Spear by Gertner, right hands by Gertner. Gertner shows off that Kamala is his inspiration, splash in the corner. Cyrus stops the elbow, stomps by Cyrus. Knee drop, chop by Cyrus. Sandman spits in Cyrus’ face, roll-up by Gertner and that angle has been paid off after almost a year.

Kash’s match was fun, no real psychology but a collection of cool looking spots that make the fans wet themselves, can’t get much better than that for ECW. Gertner beating Cyrus was a feel good moment despite how terrible Gertner was and how short it was. Worth the wait, waste of Sandman for a big show though.

Winner: Kid Kash over EZ Money via Hurricanrana!

Winner: Joel Gertner over Cyrus via Roll-Up!

Balls Mahoney & Chilly Willy vs Da Baldies

Big punches by Willy & Mahoney, double neckbreakers. Fork to the head of Devito, elbow by Mahoney. Devito is bleeding, Willy is battling Angel on the floor. More fork attacks from Mahoney, Devito sends Mahoney into the guard rail. Mahoney back drops Devito into the crowd, crowd brawling. Lots of spots in the crowd before Devito and Mahoney make it back to the ring. Headbutts do not affect Mahoney, Balls punches. Mahoney misses a corner splash but crotches Devito, Devito escapes a back suplex. Superkick by Mahoney, massive chair shot from Mahoney. Angel staples Mahoney’s eyes, Da Baldies batter Mahoney & Willy for the win.

A lame finish for a match that was just a lot of brawling, if you like that sort of thing it will be a decent match. For me it was nothing special, marginally better than a New Jack match and that is not saying a lot ladies and gentlemen. Mahoney does not sell his eye until after the match, that’s another knock.

Winner: Da Baldies over Mahoney & Willy via Chairs!

(Number One Contender Match For The ECW Heavyweight Championship) Steve Corino W/ Dawn Marie vs CW Anderson

Not what you think of when you think two heavyweight contenders but CW Anderson was climbing the card, Corino had a phenomenal 2000 by ECW standards. Corino feuded with Dusty Rhodes, stole the show with Tajiri and Jerry Lynn. The man had a great mouth coming into ECW in 1999, Corino bulked up and became the man over the course of the year. Nice stare-down to begin, lock-ups with clean breaks. Side headlock, shoulder block. Nice little wrestling sequence before a Japanese armdrag, armdrag by Corino. Stand-off, series of chops from both men. Corino wins the war, elbow from Anderson who nails a superkick.

Anderson has a chair, Anderson says fuck it. Right hands by Corino, ten punches. Anderson eats an exploder suplex, Corino has a chair. Make it two, Anderson gets smacked. Two for Corino, Anderson is bleeding. Leaping leg lariat for two, Anderson pulls Corino to the floor. Anderson is laying up against a chair, Anderson dodges the baseball slide for a chair to the face. Corino is bleeding, in other news water is wet. Corino meets the guard rail, Anderson wedges the chair in the corner. Anderson works the arm, two for Anderson. Right hands by Corino, single arm DDT by Anderson for two. Anderson stomps a chair into Corino’s arm, Anderson soccer kicks Corino with a chair for two.

Stomps on the arm, left hands from Anderson. Corino fires up, Anderson blocks Old School Expulsion for the Ferris Wheel, two for Anderson. Sleeper by Anderson, Corino crotches Anderson on a chair. Bionic low blow by Corino into a Bionic Elbow, Jack Victory attacks Swinger & Diamond. Left Hand by Anderson for two, Superkick by Corino. Two for Corino, spinebuster is countered for The Old School Explusion on the chair for the win.

Corino wins in what I thought was a decent match, Corino was someone that the fans could buy into, Corino had grown by leaps and bounds over the course of 1999 into 2000. I loved Corino’s change from scrawny annoying chickenshit heel to legitimate ass-kicking and punishment taking babyface. The match will not be blowing anyone’s minds but this was a huge win for Corino, I never thought Corino would be one of the last ECW babyfaces.

Winner: Steve Corino over CW Anderson via Old School Expulsion!

(ECW World Tag Team Championship Match) The FBI © W/ Big Sal vs The Unholy Alliance W/ Sinister Minister

Whipwreck & Tajiri start out hot with kicks, Tajiri decimates Guido. Mamaluke and Guido are dropkicked in the nuts, Tarantula on Guido. Slingshot leg drop on Mamaluke by Whipwreck, Whipwreck is attacked by Big Sal. Big Sal meets the ringpost and a kick to the head, Mamaluke is left in the tree of woe. Low dropkick by Tajiri, fireball from The Sinister Minister. Guido eats a chair, Buzzsaw Kicks to Guido. One with a chair for good measure, Whipwreck throws a chair at Guido. Whipwreck stabs Guido with the chair, headbutts to Mamaluke.

Ten punches to Mamaluke, low blow by Mamaluke. Double Powerbomb by The FBI, two for Guido. Stomps in the corner, faceplant for Whipwreck. Sicilian Slice for two, tag to Mamaluke. Snap suplexes and Russian legsweep by Mamaluke for two, Mamaluke eats a sit-out facebuster. Tag to Tajiri, sidekick for Guido. Handspring Elbow, lariat to Mamaluke. Mamaluke German suplexes Tajiri, Whipwreck makes the save. Gutbuster by Whipwreck, slingshot leg drop by Guido. Kiss of Death is blocked, green mist. Double Whippersnapper for two as Big Sal pulls out the referee. Sinister Minister pisses off Big Sal, splash in the corner. Roll-through snap from the challengers, Guido hurls Whipwreck to the floor. Big Sal eats the championship to the face, Asai Moonsault by Tajiri to Big Sal. Top rope Whippersnapper is stopped with a belt shot, double weird slam thing for the win.

It was fine, nothing special considering the type of chemistry that Guido and Tajiri have with one another, I must go back and check how many times the duo have faced one another on pay per view as it must be a ridiculous number by this time. It started off on high energy but was flat by the end, hoping for more at November to Remember if there is a rematch.

Winners: FBI over Unholy Alliance!

(ECW World Television Championship Match) Rob Van Dam W/ Bill Alfonso vs Rhino ©

RVD is back for his championship, Rhino is side-stepped to begin the match. They brawl on the floor before RVD is shoved into the crowd by Rhino. Military press to ringside by Rhino, Rhino is crotched on the guard rail. Thrust kick Van Damanator style, RVD nails a tope con hilo. Kicks by RVD, inverted atomic drop followed by a skateboard dropkick using a chair. Rhino elbows RVD, diving clothesline by Rhino. Two for Rhino, knees to the head by Rhino. Corner Gore, RVD is tossed to the floor. Rhino reaches for a table, RVD kicks and punches at Rhino. Rhino has a table in the corner, reverse chinlock from Rhino. RVD escapes, enzuigiri and a step-through spinning heel kick.

 Chair to the face by Rhino, RVD nails a rolling firemen’s carry, moonsault and a Five Star Frog Splash. Two as Rhino kicks out! Gore from Rhino, Rhino Driver through the table at ringside. Two as RVD kicks out! Knees to the head by Rhino, Alfonso smacks Rhino with the chair. Van Damanator, RVD signals for The Van Terminator. Credible appears and smacks RVD with the cane, Rhino uses Alfonso for a shield to the van terminator. Gore through the table and a Rhino Driver on the chair for the win.

Fast-count from the referee, the referee is a heel? I am guessing so, RVD is already talking to Alfonso following the piledriver, not a big fan of that at all. RVD and Rhino both do not get dramatic kick-outs of one another’s finishes, that I thought was wasted as RVD survived a Rhino Driver and Rhino survived The Five Star Frog Splash. The finish does setup RVD vs Credible which would be the big match for the company if they managed to get that far so that is a plus.

Winner: Rhino over RVD via Rhino Driver!

(ECW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Justin Credible © W/ Francine vs Jerry Lynn

Thinking back, Lynn should have beaten RVD clean if they wanted to setup Lynn managing to win the championship, it would work so much better in Lynn’s favour if he could conquer RVD and then conquer Credible. Front chancery by Lynn, hammerlocks and armdrags. Lynn is in control, lock-up. Credible backs in Lynn, chops by Credible. Lynn answers back, Credible answers Lynn. More chops by Lynn, headscissors is countered for that’s incredible, both men escape one another’s finishes, nice sequence. Diving bulldog by Lynn for two, side headlock takedown by the challenger. Lynn whips Credible over the top rope, baseball slide by Lynn.

Diving crossbody by Lynn, Credible nails a massive sidewalk slam in the ring. Francine hands Credible a chair, chair to the face for two. Stomps by Credible, powerbomb by Credible for two. They kill a minute or so crowd brawling, Lynn DDTs Credible on a chair in the ring. Inverted DDT by Credible for two, front chancery by Credible. Credible cuts a promo mid-match to fire up Lynn, it backfires as all sorts of mess is fired at the two wrestlers, Lynn escapes for a crucifix pin. They trade pins, two for Lynn. Swinging DDT by Credible, tornado DDT by Lynn. Right hands and chops by Lynn, corner clothesline by Lynn. Lynn nails his guillotine leg drop, Leg Drop for two.

Lynn has a table, Credible is placed on the table. Francine grabs Lynn, Credible tosses Lynn through the table. Two for Credible, Lynn crotches Credible. Sunset flip powerbomb by Credible for two, Lynn escapes Credible’s tombstone. Cradle Piledriver for two, Credible nails That’s Incredible for two. Superkick for the referee, Lynn rolls-up Credible for two as a crooked referee screws Lynn. Francine canes Lynn, championship to the head but Lynn kicks out again.

Rib-breaker for two, Lynn is caned again by the referee this time. That’s Incredible, the referee stops counting as the referee hears New Jack’s music. Hold on a second, why the fuck did the referee stop counting? How did New Jack’s music stop the referee’s hand? What bollocks is that? Why is New Jack here? What does New Jack have to do with this feud or referee? I am lost, Credible canes New Jack. That’s Incredible by Lynn and Lynn is your new champion.

That was long, that was a crazy finish and I do not know if that kind of finish works for me if I am a fan of Lynn, Lynn was the pure wrestler who could out wrestle someone on any night, why would Lynn need so much interference? Could you have not put over Lynn clean? And the referee stopping his count bothers me tremendously, I am sorry but there was no reason for the referee to stop counting, hearing someone’s music would not stop someone counting a pin-fall, that’s bollocks.

Winner: Jerry Lynn over Justin Credible via That’s Incredible!

That was ECW’s Anarchy Rulz 2000, a fun and easy show to get through with some head-scratching booking towards the end of the night, it is easy on the eyes, there is no doubt about that for ECW. The Rhino vs RVD match was disappointing for me, did not deliver and the finish with RVD being beaten by a fast-count rather than Rhino drilling him with The Rhino Driver and that being all was frustrating, there was no need for a fast count when you have Rhino killing people left right and centre. Rhino is a monster, let him be a monster. The final match had too much interference for my liking, Lynn was hit by referees, Credible and Francine yet kicked out of everything only for a distraction from New Jack to help him win the championship. Not buying that, where does that leave Corino now? Are you going back to Lynn vs Corino? You have RVD vs Credible setup but what about Dreamer and Sandman? There were some big names not on this show, let’s see what you do from here ECW. Overall, thumbs up show with some complaints towards the end, thanks for reading and remember: There’s always another night!

 

ECW Heatwave 2000 Review

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that could save 205 Live! ECW’s Heatwave 2000 where Justin Credible defends his championship against Tommy Dreamer in the match that the fans wanted to see at the last pay per view. Rhino and The Sandman do battle once more, RVD looks for revenge against Scotty Anton for his double-cross at the last pay per view and it seems mid-card mania continues for the likes of Super Crazy, Guido, Tajiri and Jerry Lynn.

Opening Promo

Joel Gertner and Styles do their usual shtick before Cyrus interrupts, Gertner finally snaps and attacks Cyrus for his colossal douche-baggery.

Balls Mahoney vs Big Sal

Somehow we make it out of that brawl to Big Sal and Balls, Big Sal spits at Mahoney. Clothesline to the back of the head, massive shots to the back. Mahoney punches, Big Sal staggers. Low blow and a chair shot with Big Sal still standing, Big Sal shakes it off. Chokeslam by Big Sal, Big Sal is on the bottom rope. Elbow to the balls of Mahoney, belly to belly suplex and Big Sal beats Mahoney. Well, that was a shock why did they go with that finish? No idea, DUD!

Winner: Big Sal over Balls Mahoney via Belly to Belly Suplex!

Simon Diamond/Johnny Swinger/CW Anderson vs Danny Doring/Roadkill/Kid Kash

Doring & Roadkill are full-blown babyfaces now while Kid Kash continues to show incredible growth as a high-flying daredevil. Diamond has a new partner in Swinger, CW Anderson is proving to be quite the hand in the ring. Kash and Diamond begin, lock-up. Waistlock by Diamond, Kash counters for a hammerlock. Firemen’s carry by Diamond, hammerlock from Kash. Snapmare and armdrags by Diamond, armdrag by Kash. Hiptosses by Kash, stand-off. Anderson comes in, eats an elbow from Doring. Roadkill splashes Diamond & Swinger, the babyfaces pose in the ring.

Kash nails Anderson with a slingshot hurricanrana, Diamond sends Roadkill into the guard rail. Springboard clothesline by Kash on Anderson, Diamond saves the match. Hurricanrana on Diamond, Anderson catches Kash for the ferris wheel for two. Swinger is legal, back suplex and stomps to Kash. Anderson is legal, massive chop to Kash. Kash chops back, right hands. Irish whip, Anderson eats a boot. Moonsault by Kash, Anderson is down. Doring comes in, superkick for Swinger. G-Spot Suite for Anderson, Bare-back to Diamond. Swinger Russian legsweeps Doring for two. Diamond and Swinger nail a double complete shot on Doring for two, crowd chants for Roadkill.

Simon suplexes, two for Diamond. Tag to Anderson, chops by Anderson. Doring fights back before a huge left, two as Kash saves Doring. Rocker Dropper by Doring, Roadkill gets the hot-tag. Sidewalk slam to Swinger, Dirt Road Slam to Diamond. TKO to Anderson, Doring planchas onto the heels. Kash does the same onto everyone, Roadkill springboards onto everyone. Danaconda for two, Diamond saves Swinger.

Roadkill is crotched on the top rope, Swinger & Diamond double suplex Roadkill for two. Kash saves Roadkill, Anderson spinebusters Kash for two as Roadkill drops the leg on Anderson. The Problem Solver is stopped, Wham Bam Thank You Mam, Money Maker on Swinger and this match is over!

What a fun match, the heels were hated and the babyfaces were loved, pro-wrestling at its simplest and finest. Kash was money as Styles would scream, freakishly athletic with a finisher that makes you go aww each and every time. Doring and Roadkill were a great tag team in ECW by this point, Roadkill and Doring complimented one another greatly, I would love to see a tag team championship match though, I feel like it has been ages with the dissolution of The Impact Players.

Winners: Team Kash over Team Diamond via Money Maker!

Steve Corino W/ Jack Victory vs Jerry Lynn

The idea was Jerry Lynn was joining The Network, this proved wrong as Lynn was out for one person and that was himself. Lynn sprints down to the ring an chops Corino, corner clothesline followed by diving bulldog. Clothesline to the floor, Lynn dives onto Corino and Victory. Backbreaker by Lynn, stomps by The New F’N Show. Lynn leg drops Corino guillotine style, Corino meets the guard rail. Corino ducks a clothesline and crotches Lynn, Corino has a chair. Lynn kicks the chair into Corino’s face. Tornado DDT using the guard rail for leverage, both men are down.

Corino is bleeding, no surprise there. Right hands by Lynn, ten punches by Lynn but Corino powerbombs Lynn onto a chair. Chops by Corino, Victory cheap shots Lynn. Left hands and bionic elbow by Corino, two for Corino. Lynn eats a powerslam for two, stomps by Corino. Victory attacks Lynn again, Lynn is flattened using the guard rail. Lynn is thrown into the guard rail, right hands by Corino. Lynn fires up, exploder suplex by Corino. Two for Corino, Lynn is back with right hands. Low blow by Corino, Lynn dropkicks a chair into Corino’s face. Slugfest with Lynn winning the war, Corino is crotched on the top rope.

Lynn has a chair, Lynn DDTs Corino onto the chair, Tower of London style for two. Corino manages to kick out of the DDT, Lynn talks trash before using Corino’s blood to write the word DIE on his chest. Lynn is one crazy motherfucker right here, Corino is not finished though. Superkick by Corino for two, Corino eats a reverse DDT from the middle rope for two. Scoop slam is countered for The Old School Expulsion, Corino gets two. Low blow by Lynn, powder goes into the referee’s eyes, thanks to Victory. Corino nails Lynn with his boot, Lynn is nailed with the cowbell by Victory. Two for Corino, the two reverse pins because that just has to happen. Cradle Piledriver and Lynn wins the match.

Corino and Lynn put up a good match for every fan in the arena, Lynn never fails to put a smile on my face while watching this company, the DIE moment and Lynn’s Piledriver were things of beauty. Corino is a master of blading but more importantly, Corino puts himself in another match where the fans would be talking about him the next day, Corino continues to be the man inside of that ring.

Winner: Jerry Lynn over Steve Corino via Cradle Piledriver!

Da Baldies vs Nova & Chris Chetti

New Jack comes out on crutches, Da Baldies are not fond of New Jack and beat the piss out of The Gangsta before Chetti and Nova make the save. What was the point of brining Jack out for that? Dives from Nova and Chetti, Devito nails some rights on Nova. Double flapjack on Nova, Devito gets two. Right hands by Devito and a big dropkick, belly to belly suplex from Nova. Tag to Chetti, right hands and a big thrustkick. Sidekick to Devito, Angel saves his team. Blue Thunder Bomb by Chetti, Devito attacks Chetti. Nova misses the senton bomb, Devito nails his Bronx Bomb. Devito misses a moonsault, Nova nails a piledriver followed by a second and a sit-out powerbomb. Angle clotheslines Nova, Chetti pummels Angel.

Angel ducks a clothesline, Angel misses a leg lariat. Amityville Horror connects, Nova and Chetti climb to the top rope, Angle has nowhere to go but down as Chetti and Nova nails The Tidal Wave for the win. That was fairly short, a squash in every sense of the word so not much to report here.

Winners: Nova & Chetti over Da Baldies via Tidal Wave!

Little Guido vs Psicosis vs Tajiri vs Mikey Whipwreck

Well would you look at that, Guido and Tajiri have not progressed at all since 1999, Whipwreck enters this match as he is insane, Whipwreck is in pyromaniac mode. Tony Mamaluke gets planted for interfering, Big Sal catches Whipwreck and sends Whipwreck into the ringpost. Psicosis nails his Guillotine Leg Drop with Guido stealing the pin for the elimination.

Tajiri kicks Guido, Psicosis chops Tajiri. Armdrag by Tajiri, shoulder block by Psicosis. Hurricanrana by Tajiri, headscissors too. Hotshot by Psicosis, Guido and Psicosis brawl before an Asai Moonsault from Tajiri. Buzzsaw kick to Guido, superplex from Tajiri. Corkscrew Moonsault by Psicosis for two, Psicosis goes after Tajiri. Chops by Psicosis, Guido nails The Kiss of Death. Buzzsaw Kick from Tajiri to Guido, German Suplex on Psicosis and we are down to two.

 Tajiri slams Guido to the mat, victory roll from Guido for two. Buzzsaw Kick by Tajiri, Tarantula from Tajiri. Handspring Elbow by Tajiri, Tajiri wants a chair from ringside. Guido is placed in the tree of woe, chair to the ribs. Dropkick to the face, Guido kicks a chair into Tajiri’s face. Sicilian Slice by Guido, chops by Guido. Tajiri is faceplanted onto a chair, Tajiri stops the kiss of death. Green Mist and a Brainbuster on the chair for the win.

What can I say that I have not already? Tajiri and Guido have touched a thousand times, they bring out the best in one another, both men are two wrestlers you want opening shows because they are staples of the company, both men connect with the crowd so easily and they never have a bad match with one another.

Winner: Tajiri over Little Guido via Brainbuster!

(ECW Television Championship Match) Rhino © vs The Sandman

The Sandman looks for revenge against the monster Rhino, Rhino vs The Sandman was twice stopped from taking place on pay per view. Rhino had destroyed Sandman’s wife, Sandman had cost Rhino the TV Championship but Rhino is the champion at the end of the day and this feud continues despite the terrible matches, Sandman cracks Rhino with his cane four times and Rhino is on his feet. Clothesline by Rhino, Sandman dodges a corner clothesline. Right hands by Sandman, left hands by Sandman on the floor. There is a guard rail in the ring, Rhino has a chair. Chair to the back, left hands by Sandman in the ring.

Rhino meets the guard rail, Sandman nails a Heinekenrana onto the guard rail for two. Bulldog on the guard rail for two, Rhino suplexes Sandman on the guard rail. Rhino is slammed, Sandman places the guard rail on Rhino. Rolling Rock by Sandman for two, Rhino meets the guard rail again. Victory and Corino are here, Spike Dudley in a leg brace is here. 3D on Corino, Rhino is up. Roll-up by Sandman, Rhino Gores Spike. Rhino Driver on Spike through a table at ringside, more cane shots to Rhino. White Russian Legsweep is countered, Sandman bounces off the guard rail. Rhino Driver on the guard rail, Rhino retains.

Best they could hope for, all the violence of a match between the two, interference to clear up any sticky spots, Rhino continues to be an absolute monster, surviving everything that is thrown his way while Sandman will always be over, a legend in ECW by this point with nothing be able to diminish his starpower in the fans’ eyes.

Winner: Rhino over The Sandman via Rhino Driver!

Rob Van Dam W/ Bill Alfonso vs Scotty Anton

Scotty Anton was a dear friend to RVD, RVD was going to beat Jerry Lynn again before Anton turned his back on RVD costing him the match. Not sure what they thought they would get out of Anton but let’s see how it goes, RVD nails spinning heel kicks and a splash for two, Anton whips RVD into the guard rail. Boot by RVD, moonsault off the guard rail. Corkscrew guillotine leg drop with a chair by RVD, Anton begs for mercy. Low dropkick by RVD, military press by RVD. Moonsault, rolling firemen’s carry with a middle rope moonsault for two. Forearms by RVD, RVD crotches Anton on the rope. Anton wrestles the chair from Alfonso and RVD is smacked with the chair to the floor.

Anton does the clap, knee to the head of RVD. Bulldog onto the guard rail, clothesline against the guard rail. Anton slams RVD into the turnbuckle, Oklahoma Stampede style. RVD is in the tree of woe, choke from Anton. Both men are on the top rope, back superplex by Anton for two. Anton mocks RVD, stretch from Anton. Anton makes RVD do the clap, DDT by Anton. Two for Anton, Anton dropkicks RVD in the head. Anton clotheslines RVD off the guard rail, RVD is in the tree of woe. RVD kicks a chair into Anton’s face, diving thrustkick is blocked for a Boston crab. Alfonso breaks up the crab, RVD leg trips Anton onto the chair. Two for RVD, step-through spinning heel kick.

Inverted atomic drop by RVD, running chair dropkick into the face. Two for RVD, split-legged moonsault. Two for RVD, Rolling Thunder from RVD. Anton attacks the weakened leg of RVD, Clapper from Anton. RVD grabs a chair, big stomp from Anton. Anton grabs Alfonso, two-handed throat toss. The Clapper on Alfonso, slowest Van Damanator ever! Five Star Frog Splash, Van Terminator for the first time ever.

God, that was a long match. Anton and RVD do their best pose off for half of the match, the heat segment went on and on and on and on and on, I thought it would never come to an end. Anton was nowhere near as over or as good as he needed to be to be in there with RVD, it made for a real boring match. The Van Terminator was worth investing in though, the fans loved it and RVD is an athletic freak. Boring match with a cool finish.

Winner: Rob Van Dam over Scotty Anton via Van Terminator!

(ECW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Tommy Dreamer W/ Jazz vs Justin Credible © W/ Francine

Gorgeous George is here too, what in the name of God is going on for this match? Anyways, Credible vs Dreamer has been going on for beyond a year I’d say at this point, another dynamic was added with The Impact Players vs Raven and Dreamer, that went nowhere due to Storm and Raven leaving for WCW and WWF respectively. Another layer would be added with Mike Awesome leaving for WCW, Tazz beating Awesome for the championship and then, Dreamer beating Tazz. Dreamer was champion for about thirty seconds before Credible stole the championship, playing up to Dreamer’s pride and goading Dreamer into a championship match. Lovely start to quite the storyline with XPW morons attacking Francine, Dreamer and the locker room spill out for war.

That’s a shame considering this was a great build to a feud, we eventually start. Dreamer seems off his game, superkick by Credible. Powerslam by Dreamer, clothesline to the floor. Beer to the face of Credible, crowd brawling. Credible meets the guard rail, more crowd brawling. Dreamer is tipped off the ladder falling somewhere between tables, we are back at ringside. Credible is sent into a ladder, we are in the ring. Ladder is placed on the top turnbuckle, Dreamer is sent into the ladder. Dreamer smacks Credible into a ladder, Dreamer climbs towards the barbed wire. Low blow by Francine, Dreamer lands on Francine. George and Jazz come in, Jazz wants Francine.

George turns on Jazz, swerve Vince Russo style. Francine looks for a bronco buster, Jazz counters with a boot. Jazz attacks George, Francine is stripped of her bra. That’s Incredible on Jazz, Dreamer nails The TommyHawk. Two for Dreamer, Dreamer pulls down the barbed wire. Credible is crotched onto the barbed wire, Credible counters diamond dust for That’s Incredible on the barbed wire, two for Credible. Francine canes Credible by mistake, DDT for two. Tommyhawk is countered for That’s Incredible on the barbed wire and it is over.

The problem here is the fans just did not want to see Credible as the top guy, the fans do not buy Credible as their main event heel with the likes of Dreamer, Lynn, Corino and Rob Van Dam around. The two put on an entertaining match, not sure why George was needed for that moment. Hope she was well paid for it, Dreamer in his own words said that he never wanted to be the champion in ECW but I just think that ECW may have missed the boat by not putting the championship on Dreamer on this night.

Winner: Justin Credible over Tommy Dreamer via That’s Incredible!

That was ECW’s Heatwave 2000, a one match show when you break it all down. I have grown accustomed to the fast paced matches of ECW, very rarely will you find yourself bored with an ECW pay per view, the over-booking of years gone past has been stamped out a lot, I am not finding myself wanting to throw fits when a pay per view is over. There are a lot of rising wrestlers on the roster, the likes of Corino and Lynn plus Rhino and Tajiri come to mind. The problem for me lies with booking, you cannot book long-term when everyone is jumping to the other companies because you cannot pay them. So, we have a lack of main event presence for ECW, the company is still going and the pay per views are mostly easy on the eyes but they could not keep it up much longer. Thanks for reading and remember: There’s always another night!