Note: Before my review, I should note that before watching these shows, I've had a very negative opinion about ECW and it's fans. Let's see if my opinion can change through these.


ECW Hardcore TV (May 27th, 1995)


- A WWE 24/7 Exclusive. This is the first week of the shows since I subscribed to 24/7, so from here is where it all begins, as I plan to attempt to recap each episode. With each running about 52 minutes (with intros) and usually two episodes a month, that shouldn't be a problem. The host of the show is Tazz, former ECW Champion and the only guy in the payroll worth a damn to be in this position, except for one other person, who happens to join him as host a few months down the road. Any guesses who? Anyway, Tazz's comments usually reflect on what was going on at the time, and the occasional tidbit/funny story about his days in ECW.


- Last Week on ECW... Shane Douglas introduces a new trouble-shooting referee, Bill Alfonso, decked out in his WWF referee gear. Alfonso, in a few words, is Grade-A Hick, judging by his voice and questionable dental hygene. Later in the show, Tommy Dreamer and Raven are wrestling, but Alfonso DQ's Dreamer for using a closed fist. From there, Cactus Jack comes out and has words with Shane Douglas.


- The ECW Fan Cam catches some comments from Todd Gordon, the "Commisioner" of ECW. For a grown man, Gordon says "anal" like he's a 15-year old in television that isn't comfortable with using foul language. I'm not saying it sounded scripted, but it sure didn't come across like a spontanious insult. Also, nice touch for a "Fan Cam" to explain why we see Gordon cutting a promo outside of an office building.

[Before I continue, I should note that because ECW used a lot of licensed music, and the WWE is too cheap to pay for it (cough:Enter Sandman:cough to name one), we get a LOT of dubbing over of generic music or stuff that was used in WCW. Talk about revisionist history...]


1. ECW Television Championship Match:
Eddy Guerrero © vs. Dean Malenko:
The graphic kindly points out this is a One Fall, 30-Minute Time Limit Match from the ECW Arena, and yes, it's spelled "Eddy" in ECW, and "Eddie" in WCW and WWE. Just want to clear that up, so when I spell it "Eddie" for WWE, don't give me shit. Joey Styles is joined on commentary by the-man-now-known as Taz (the ECW spelling, Tazz in WWE land), uder either an assumed or his real name, but I didn't hear it clearly. Lockup to start, and Guerrero with a go-behind into a full nelson. Guerrero with an arm drag into an armbar, then turns it into an arm scissors. Malenko escapes and grapevines the legs of Guerrero. Guerrero tries to grab a headlock, but Malenko turns the preasure back on. [CLIP] Malenko whips Guerrero to the corner, and comes in with a vicious clothesline. Guerrero comes back with a version of a flying head-scissors from the top rope, sending Malenko out of the ring. [CLIP] Malenko with a reverse DDT and locks in a dragon sleeper, but Guerrero makes the ropes. Outside the ring they go, and Malenko whips Guerrero into the steel barricade. Back into the ring, and Malenko connects with a Tigerbomb for a two count. Guerrero plays dead for a while, so Malenko chokes him with his foot. Malenko with a snap back suplex for a two count. Malenko scoops up Guerrero and connects with a tombstone piledriver (jumping version) for another two count. Malenko sets Guerrero up on the top turnbuckle. Guerrero thumbs his eye and tries a tornado DDT, but Malenko throws him away, back into the opposite corner. Irish whip, and Malenko with a powerbomb, then applies a Boston crab. Guerrero quickly counters into a pin, but Malenko counters that. More complicated counters leads to a double clotheslines. [CLIP] Guerrero sends Malenko into the steel rail, then comes off the top rope with a flying body press. INTO THE AISLE. That's a lot of distance. [CLIP] Guerrero with a brain buster, and he heads up to the top rope... Frog Splash time, but Malenko gets the knees up before impact, and the momentum of that sends Guerrero out of the ring. Malenko tosses Guerrero back in the ring, and heads to the top rope himself. Guerrero cuts him off, and connects with a super-plex! [CLIP] Guerrero with a poke of the eyes, then walks the top rope and comes off with a hurracanrana for a two count. Guerrero appears to land on his head, and is busted open. Malenko manages to get up to his feet first, then takes his sweet time to do anything. Malenko with an elbow to the back of the head for a two count. Malenko goes for the Texas Cloverleaf, but Guerrero counters with a small package for a two count. Guerrero sets up Malenko on the top rope, and another hurracanrana connects. [CLIP] Guerrero with a crucifix sit-out powerbomb for a two count. Malenko hammers away on the open wound of Guerrero, sending him down again. Malenko with an unusual roll-up and bridge (think Bob Backlund, except more athletic) for a two count. Guerrero with a school-boy roll up for a two count of his own. Guerrero with a complex pinning combination that I've never seen before, for another two count. Guerrero sits across the chest of Malenko in the corner, then applies the figure-four leglock in the center of the ring.... and the bell rings at 12:36, signalling a heavily clipped TIME LIMIT DRAW. Guerrero retains the Television Championship as a result. Despite being clipped to hell, this had the marks of a classic match. For this, I'd probably say **1/2, but from judgment, the whole match was probably ****.

[To give everyone an idea of how bad WWF was, this same week, the Raw main event was Shawn Michaels vs. King Kong Bundy. Yeah.]


- After the match, Joey Styles introduces the reinvented Taz, formerly the Tazmaniac, along with his "manager" Paul E. Dangerously. Clips of the Tazmaniac in action are shown, doing his five hundred versions of suplexes and slams on some random jobbers. [Tazz cuts in with some comments about him ditching the Tazmaniac gimmick.]


- Joey Styles runs down the tension between Raven and Tommy Dreamer over the past few weeks, including incidents introducing Luna Vachon to Tommy Dreamer's corner (Raven's old flame), and Beulah McGilliwhatever to Raven's (See above, except reversed). We follow that up with a Raven promo, and we all know none of them are fast forward material. OK, some are, but for the most part, aren't.


2. ECW World Championship Match:
The Sandman © (w/ Woman) vs. Cactus Jack:
Of course, the Sandman's theme music is dubbed over with generic crap that sounds nothing like Enter Sandman, unless you're deaf, dumb, and blind. It must be the mid-90's, cause Sandman has his stars and stripes pants on every week. And Woman is kinda hot. Sandman baseball slides Cactus before he can enter the ring, then tosses him into the security railing. Sandman with a steel chair across the back, and now Cactus is fighting back with some short rights and tossing Sandman into the crowd. Joey Styles informs us the winner faces Shane Douglas later in the night (a.k.a next week on television)... and as I typer that, Cactus hurls himself over the rail onto the Sandman. They brawl up through the crowd, and Cactus smacks Sandman with a chair. Back to the ring, area, and Sandman low-blows Cactus, then chairs him across the back again. Cactus eats table, and collapses a leg in the process. Cactus no-sells that about 5-seconds later and rams Sandman into the ring post. Sandman eats chair courtesy of a guy holding one in the crowd, then gets a second helping because it tasted so good the first time. Into the ring for the first time all night, and Cactus covers for a one count. Sandman quickly dumps Cactus out of the ring and comes off the apron with a clothesline. Cactus gets sent into the railing again, and two weapons come up... a cooking sheet, and a BOWLING PIN. Talk about an obscure weapon. Neither are used, as Sandman throws Cactus back in the ring. Sandman with a sloppy slingshot dropkick, borderline awful. Fuck it, it was awful. Sandman takes Cactus over with a vertical suplex, then whips him into the corner with extra leverage (a.k.a falling on his ass). Repeat. Cactus with a low kick, and Sandman returns the favor with about 10 kicks to the chest. Cactus comes back with punches and some forskin biting. Irish whip, Cactus with a boot to the chest, and a swinging neck breaker for a two count. Cactus headbutt, but Sandman counters his patent clothesline by simply back dropping him out of the ring. Sandman throws Cactus back into the crowd, then completely misses a... dive, of some sort, into the crowd, smacking against the rail. Ew, look at the two fat women in the shot, the only women I should say. Back in the ring this mess goes, and Sandman connects with a (sloppy) piledriver. Sandman's actual wrestling ability is so piss poor, it's no wonder he was never hired by the WWF. After one match, he'd stink the ring up so bad, he would've been fired. Now imagine him 11 years later, and guess how awful he is. Anyway, Cactus takes control again. A table becomes involved, and Cactus throws the table, with the Sandman, over the top rope! Sandman must've landed on his head! Out of nowhere, some chick throws a bucket of barbed wire into the ring... and I don't think it's the fake rubber kind, either. Cactus wraps the barbed wire around his arm and smacks Sandman in the face a few times... and Sandman clearly blades on camera, unless he's hiding a cigarette between his fingers. Cactus then comes off the apron with a barb-wire elbow drop. Back in the ring, and Cactus with more elbows. Despite having barb-wire around his arm, Cactus isn't bleeding. I guess it is the fake kind, after all. DDT by Cactus, but Shane Douglas runs out to put Sandman's foot on the ropes. Sandman recovers, low-blows Cactus with his singapore cane, and covers for the three count at 11:30, retaining the title. The less said about this match, the better. It fucking sucked. I'm going back to star ratings because of this stinker, and giving it a generous -*. It would've been higher, but the table spot was really fucking awesome, and hasn't be done to death.

And that's how the show ends.


Final Thoughts: The first 35-minutes of the show is pretty good, highlighting the feuds between Malenko/Guerrero and Raven/Dreamer. Then the "main event" between Sandman and Cactus really leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and it's more important for the last match to be great than the first, because that's what should be used to hook viewers for next week. Overall, a pretty good show that would've been great without the World Title match.

ECW Hardcore T.V. - June 3rd, 1995:


- Week #2 in the ECW Reviews, thanks to WWE 24/7 On Demand, with your host, Tazz. For those that missed the last weeks review, Eddy Guerrero and Dean Malenko wrestled to a time limit draw, the Sandman retained his title against Cactus Jack thanks to some help by Shane Douglas, and Bill Alfonso is making everyone's life in ECW hell.

Monday Night Raw Main Event of the Week: The British Bulldog vs. Owen Hart in a King of the Ring Qualifying Match. On paper it sounds good, but it ended up being a boring time limit draw. With that out of the way, let's go to the next episode...


1. Hack Myers vs. Tony Stetsan:
I have no clue who Stetsan is. Hack Myers is some bum-looking guy with a weird haircut, also known as "The Shah of ECW." To illustrate that point, whenever he hits someone, the crowd chants "Shah", and when someone hits him, especially someone that sucks, it sounds like they chant "Shit." Stetsan attacks Myers outside of the ring before the bell, and chokes him with his own jacket. Myers comes back with rights, but gets whipped into the rail. Into the ring for the first time, and Stetsan hammers on Myers with a foreign weapon, followed by some choking. Myers fights back, but is kept at bay again. Stetsan with a beard-lock, so Myers goes low. Myers with a snapmare, followed by a second rope fist-drop. That looked really sloppy. Myers with a series of lefts to Stetsan. Whip into te corner, and Myers follows in with a back elbow. Myers with a snapmare, followed by another fist drop. Stetsan goes to the eyes and hammers on Myers with forearms. Stetsan goes low for no reason. Irish whip, and Myers... PUNCHES! I wonder what he'll do next. Scoop slam, to my surprise, as fans chant "Boring." Glad they agree with me. Stetsan uses a leverage manuever to send Hack into the turnbuckle. Whip to the corner is reversed, and Myers nails an elbow to the back of the head. Guillotine leg drop by Myers on the apron. He heads to the top rope with a face-buster for the merciful three count at 5:32. Awful match. Hack Myers makes the Sandman look like Dean Malenko. [DUD]


- Highlights from last week's highlights of Eddy Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko for the Television Title, and the transformation of the Tazmaniac into Taz. Paul E. Dangerously cuts a promo on behalf of his client.


- The Public Enemy cut a promo from what looks like either a batting cage, or a park. Grunge has his bathrob on and a toy sword in his pocket, pretending he's Japanese. Yeah... then he randomly rants about his sneaker. This goes on for a while, but at least it's not boring, although a bit unusual. [Cut to Tazz talking about the Public Enemy, who are both passed on now.]


- More highlights... two weeks ago on ECW, Shane Douglas brings in Bill Alfonso to trouble-shoot. This leads to tension between Cactus Jack and Douglas, resulting in Douglas costing Cactus the ECW Title in his match against the Sandman last week.


2. ECW World Championship Match:
The Sandman © (w/ Woman) vs. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas:
From the same card as the previous Sandman/Cactus match, which was hyped during last weeks show. Ring entrances are cut out, no doubt because someone was too lazy to dub over both entrance songs. Please God, let this be better than last weeks disaster between Sandman and Cactus Jack. I'm begging! Crowd chants "We Want Flair" to piss off Shane Douglas. If you don't know why, just google it. It's a fairly common tidbit. At ringside Woman fondles the singapore cane. Why can't we have "valet's" like her anymore? Tough, beautiful, and knows what the hell she's doing. Back to the "match"... they lockup, with Douglas hammering away on the cut of the Sandman. Irish whip to the opposite corner, and Douglas with more punching. Douglas removes a turnbuckle pad and rams Sandman into the exposed steel. Douglas with a snapmare, followed by a float-over neck snap. Sandman tries dumping Douglas, but it doesn't work, and Douglas drops him across the top rope (and on his head, because he fucked up). Douglas with more working of the wound on Sandman's forhead. Sandman comes back by leverage tossing Douglas into the ropes. Douglas skins the cat to bring Sandman to the outside with a head scissors, then connects with a plancha. Douglas to the top rope, and comes off with a cross body press. Irish whip, and Douglas with a dropkick for a one count. Irish whip, and Douglas with a clothesline. Sandman elbows the midsection, but gets kicked in the face. Douglas runs the ropes and springboards for a splash for a two count. Sandman comes back again, tossing Douglas over the top rope. Sandman introduces Douglas into the steel rail a few times. This match is going down-hill fast. Sandman suplexes Douglas onto a stack of unused tables. Back into the ring, the Sandman connects with a delay vertical suplex. Scoop slam by the Sandman, followed by a sling-shot leg drop/senton from the apron for... no count. Sandman goes to the top rope for a leg drop attempt, but Douglas rolls out of the way. Douglas with stomping in the corner as Cactus Jack makes an appearence in the aisle. Douglas goes for a belly-to-belly, but Sandman counters with his own. Douglas gets his foot on the rope during the cover, but Cactus pushes it off, and Sandman retains the title at 10:42... but here's Bill Alfonso to void the decision on an instant replay call. Woman wants Sandman to cane Alfonso, and so does everyone else... but Shane Douglas rolls him up for another three count and the title... but the REAL referee says no, and it's all going to hell in a hand basket. No Decision I guess, so Sandman retains the title. Match sucked again, but not negative stars bad.

After the nonsense of the finish that makes no sense, Dean Malenko comes in to beat-down on Cactus until Tommy Dreamer makes the save. And now out comes Raven and Steven Richards to pick up the pieces, and Raven DDT's Dreamer on what looks like the piece of a fan (the thing that blows air, not a person). [1/2*]


Final Thoughts: Terrible episode. The two matches featured were both patheticly bad in either workrate or booking, and everything else was just a bunch of recaps from the last couple of episodes of ECW television. Total pass of a show, with nothing much of interest happening that hasn't been done before.

ECW Hardcore T.V. - June 12th, 1995:


- Time for Week #3! Hopefully Week #2 was a fluke bad episode, which featured an incredibly bad Hack Myers match, and more Sandman than I could stomach. The Bill Alfonso situation continued, one of the very few bright-spots of the show. Yes, a hick-referee was the highlight of a show.

Monday Night Raw Main Event of the Week: Lex Luger vs. Yokozuna in a King of the Ring Qualifying Match. Terrible.


- We open the show with a bunch of highlights from the on-going tension between Shane Douglas and Cactus Jack, more often than not revolving around the World Title and their quests to take it away from the Sandman. Included is one incident of Terry Funk coming out with a flaming branding iron, Shane Douglas serving as a referee for a Cactus/Sandman match, Shane introducing Alsonso and costing Cactus the World Title, and last weeks post-match from Douglas/Sandman. After all of that, we find out that the Sandman will defend the title against Cactus Jack at another show, and Cactus Jack cuts a promo. He's got a bit of barbed wire with him, and even wears it like a hat at one point.


- Paul E. Dangerously cuts a promo. He's hyping up Taz some more. Dangerously begins ranting after a while, talking about Michaels Jordan's failed baseball career, and Michael Jackson not liking little boys. How all of that has anything to do with Taz's push makes me wonder... then I turn my attention to the nonsense storyline of Back to the Future Part II, and realize wrestling storylines make a lot more sense when compared to that.


1. Dog-Collar Tag Team Match:
The Public Enemy vs. The PitBulls (w/ Stevie Richards):
(Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge vs. Pitbull #1 & #2)
The editing beast turns it's ugly head here. Public Enemy come out rocking to GENERIC music that would make Mr. Generica blush with embarassment, then in the ultimate lazy move, the Pitbulls come out to... the generic them for the show's opening! I have to give the WWF Production Crew extra points for sinking to a new level of lazy after they once dubbed over JYD's theme with PILEDRIVER... in 1984! If the Public Enemy win, they get 5-minutes with Stevie Richards. I didn't know Jim Cornette was booking ECW shows... Back to the match, the Public Enemy are the reigning ECW Tag Team Champions, but I don't know if this is a Title Match. Referee fat-guy holds up the belts, so I guess so... and Styles just confirmed it. Todd Gordon is there to present the chains for the match, before takig a walk.

Johnny Grunge and Pitbull #1 are chained, as are Rocco Rock and Pitbull #2. My only way of knowing how to describe the difference between the Pitbulls is that #1 has the long hair, and #2 is bald. Grunge wastes no time trying to hang Pitbull #1 with the chain, while #2 and Rock just stand around in the corner doing nothing. Correction... #2 throws Rock by the chain. #1 uses the chain as a pair of knuckles and hammers away on Grunge. Rock works on #2 in the corner while #1 and Grunge battle outside of the ring. Pitbull #2 tries something from the top, but Rock clotheslines him. #2 no-sells, and powerbombs Rocco Rock for a two count. Now everyone is outside of the ring. Grunge and #2 nail their respective chain-ees with steel chairs. Rocco chokes #2 then opens a soda can across his face. Then with a ROLLING PIN. Obscure weapons are EXTREME! Rock eats chair, and it deflects into the crowd, and appears to hit some people. Rock with a skillet, and he bashes #2 good. Grunge with a senton through #1 and a table. #2 returns the skillet blows. Lots of action, not much point to any of it, and even less selling. #1 low-blows Grunge, and a table is being thrown into the ring by Stevie Richards. #2 connects with a powerslam on Rock from the top of the table mounted in the corner for a two count.

[Break for some Tazz comments. He goes into a ficticious story about a hotel room dog collar match he had, and he's cut off...]

We return with Rocco Rock moonsaulting #2 through a table for a two count. #2 hammers on Rock and covers, but the referee is out of position, clearing the ring of broken pieces of table. Rock and #2 brawl their way through the crowd and up onto the stage area, and Rocco Rock is pulled off by the chain, and in turn connects with a senton onto #2. Back in the ring, and Grunge whips #1 with the chain. BAD DOG! Choking with the chain by Grunge. Rocco sets up a table near where ever the hell he is, then Pitbull #2 suplexes him through it. Cover is made, butthe referee is nowhere near the area to try and count it. Grunge with a hangman on #1 inthe ring, while #2 and Rock make their ways back to the ring area. #1 sets up Grunge on the top turnbuckle. We lose track of them as #2 brings a chair into the mess and hammers on Grunge. #1 suplexed Grunge back into the ring, and Richards sends in ANOTHER table. Talk about over-doing it... The Pitbulls set up Rocco for the Superbomb, and the table pretty much explodes on impact, with a whole bunch of shit flying everywhere. What was that, dirt? Anyway, it only gets a two count. END THIS MESS! Richards holds back Grunge from the apron, so naturally Richards takes the blow of a double clothesline, and goes flying through a table. That's FOUR table spots! #1 with a super-plex on Grunge. Rocco Rock lands on top of #2 on a suplex attempt, and that's enough for the three count at 12:36. Pitbull #1 had Grunge pinned at the same time, but the referee only saw the shoulders of Pitbull #2 down for the count. This means the Public Enemy get 5-minutes with Stevie Richards, but they're so beaten up, they probably couldn't capitalize on it.

After the Pitbulls are (eventually) shown the door, Richards hammers away on both of the Public Enemy, but then stupidly picks them up. P.E. with a double clothesline. Irish whip and a double back drop. Reverse DDT by Grunge, and out comes Raven to make the save of his goofy sidekick. The Pitbulls also return to make sure nothing happens to Raven, and the Public Enemy take a beating from everyone, including Stevie Richards. Tommy Dreamer clears Richards from the ring and brawls with Raven, but Richards returns to smack him with a steel chair. Raven with the chair across the back of Dreamer, and plants him with a DDT. Beulah makes her way to ringside after about 2-minutes of this. Dreamer fights back, and Luna Vachon comes out to send Richards running like a girl. Dreamer goes for Beulah now, and plants her with a jumping piledriver. As for the match, senseless brawling that just seemed to go on for much longer than 12-minutes, and throw in a bunch of pointless table spots (and some of the worst selling I've ever seen). [*1/2]


- We see the Public Enemy leaving the "arena" acting goofy as usual, but they "casually" come across some grafiti-tag... "T.P.E. TOS" I wonder who could've done that. Maybe we'll find out next week! That didn't look forced at all by the Public Enemy, and it was nice that the street's only good light happened to be shining on the grafitti.


Final Thoughts: Another weak episode, but not as bad as the previous. Only one match is featured, and it isn't very good. Throw in a lot of post-match brawls featuring non-participants, and it makes you scratch your head more. And the coup de grace, MORE recaps! The Douglas/Cactus stuff ate up nearly 9-minutes of the show!

Watching this stuff, it seems like ECW had certain "roles" and cycled different wrestlers into each.

Main example is Hack Myers. A sloppy midcard brawling guy who has the fans chant his name everytime he punches. Compare that to.... Balls Mahoney, a sloppy midcard guy who has the fans chant his name everytime he punches.

The bad ass babyface tag team was another. The Pit Bulls and the Eliminators eventually take over the role that PE had.

Speaking of Public Enemy, it was kinda' funny how their original intro music was "Here Comes the Hot-stepper" by Ini Kamoze (spelling?). A song that had been released about six months earlier on the soundtrack to a movie with JULIA ROBERTS.

Of course Raven was the biggest re-runner..cycling in countless guys in the same role for his shitty stables.


---oh yeah, change your signature, bunky!

I will later. :D

ECW Hardcore T.V. - June 19th, 1995:


- Time for Week #4 of the on-going reviews of the original ECW television broadcasts, courtesy of all our "Friends" at WWE production headquarters. The last couple of weeks have been a bit tough to sit through, with awful Sandman matches, a pointless garbage match for the Tag Titles, and the never ending supply of recaps. I understand ECW was a small time company that constantly was finding new viewers in different markets, but there's no need to replay entire segments, or even majority of them. A quick bit of key moments is all you need, that's why they call it "highlights."


- Extensive highlights from a ECW undercard, no doubt from the same taping as the matches featured on this show.

The Broadstreet Bully (hey, it's that Stetsan loser!) pinned the "Jersey Devil", and Styles informs us Paul E. is a Rangers fan while 911 chokeslams him into the next millennium. Too bad the Islanders aren't mentioned, because I have a whole notebook filled of insults for them.
Mikey Whipwreck pinned the 510 pound Val Puccio.

Todd Gordon and Bill Alfonso got into a war of words, with both men blowing lines left and right.

The Vampire Warrior pinned Hack Myers, then had a confrontation with Tommy Dreamer.


- After 10-minutes of the show, we ginally get the opening of the broadcast.


1. Luna Vachon vs. Beulah (w/ Raven & Stevie Richards):
Something has to be up here... Beulah isn't a wrestler, and wasn't even close to being used as a wrestler at this point. Beulah is the first wrestler since Adrian Adonis to wrestle in high-heel boots (kidding), and does a C-Level Striptease to the excitement of everyone (particularly Stevie Richards) except Raven. Richards runs from Luna and disappears from the camera, while Raven remains in the ring. Something is definitely up... and yup, Stevie Richards KO's Luna from behind with a steel chair, and Beulah picks up the easy three count at the 12-second mark. Props to Luna for taking a good shot like that across the back. Afterwards, Raven plants Luna with a DDT. Tommy Dreamer tries making the save, but he's still bloody from a brawl with the Vampire Warrior, and gets DDT'd for his troubles. Raven, to add injury to insult and injury, breaks a few of Dreamer's fingers (kayfabe). Raven sets his attentions on Luna again, then cuffs her to the bottom rope, in a way that isn't unlike how a certain someone was nailed to a cross a few thousand years ago. Raven with a chair, but Dreamer takes the blow of it, and Raven simply walks away after that. After the match, the ECW Fan Cam catches up with Raven, who's nice enough to cut his usual deep, dark, twisted soul promo. Can't say the guy was a bad interview at all. As for the match, I won't bother rating it, for obvious reasons.


- We return to the studio with Tazz to talk about Raven and ECW's controversial booking ideas, like the crucifix situations. But mostly about Raven, complimenting him about 50 times in less than 90 seconds.


2. Taz (w/ Paul E. Dangerously) & 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Raven & The PitBulls (w/ Stevie Richards & Beulah):
Tommy Dreamer was originally supposed to be part of the Taz and 2CS team, but obviously after the previous incident mentioned above, he's in no condition to be wrestling. Before the match though, Hack Myers runs in to punch everyone. Bill Alfonso comes in soon after, and orders Hack out of the ring, and that the match will remain a 3-on-2 tag team match due to Dreamer being taken away because of injuries. Scorpio rushes the ring and cleans house of everyone himself before being powerbombed Scorpio by Pitbull #2. 2CS takes a beating from all three men until Taz makes his way to the ring to clear the ring. Belly-to-belly suplex on Raven, another to Pitbull #2, and Pitbull #1 takes the third before the heels regroup outside of the ring. Paul E. gets on the microphone to use some not-so-nice words at Raven that gets bleeped. I never understood that... the crowd is clearly chanting fuck and shit throughout the show, but if someone says it in the ring, it's bleeped.

Taz and Pitbull #2 start the match in a more formal manner. Taz no-sells a few rights and takes down Pitbull #2 with a arm drag, then applies a wristlock. 2CS with a sledge across the arm, and he goes to the wristlock now. PB2 fights his way free and tags in PB1, who pounds away on the back of Scorpio. PB1 with a scoop slam, and Raven tags in, dropping a fist across the forhead for a one count. PB2 tags back in. Irish whip is reversed, and 2CS with an arm drag take over, then into an armbar. PB2 escapes with an elbow to the side of the head. Whip across the ring, and 2CS uses his athletic abilities to avoid any damage. PB2 blocks being taken down until 2CS uses the ropes for leverage. Scorpio with a head scissors for a two count. PB1 comes into the ring, but eats a dropkick. Outside the ring, Taz pounds on PB2, then dumps him back in the ring. Taz tags in with some clubberin', and applies a side headlock. Irish whip, and PB2 comes back with a back elbow. PB1 in again, and he sends Taz into the corner for a clothesline. Taz gets dumped out of the ring, and gets thrown into an elbow from PB2. #2 with a steel chair, and he smacks Taz across the back. Did PB2 just have a toy Tyranasauras Rex in his hand as a weapon!? Anyway, back in the ring, and Raven covers Taz for no count. Raven with a double under-hook suplex for another non-count, thanks to the referee being distracted. Taz with a blatant low-blow to Raven, but PB2 cuts off a tag attempt. PB2 scoops up Taz and plants him with a running powerslam. Raven tags in and covers for a two count. Irish whip, and Taz pulls off a Taz-Plex out of nowhere. Scorpio gets the hot tag, and he hammers away on both Pitbulls. Side kicks to all three (legal) heels. Scorpio with a slam on Pitbull #2, followed by a moonsault from the top for a two count. The camera picks up Paul E. at ringside pointing out a fan with a Stevie Richards sign. She looks familiar... (obviously setting something up for te future). Taz with a release german suplex on Pitbull 2, while Scorpio was preparing to come off the top. They argue, allowing the Pitbulls to double clothesline Taz. Scorpio returns the favor with a top rope double clothesline to them both. Raven and Richards are occupied with the "fan." The Pitbulls dump out Scorpio, and the match is basically a 2-on-2 now. Irish whip, and Pitbull #1 with a slingshot shoulder block to Taz. Instead of covering, the Pitbulls are too busy wondering where Raven went. Morons. Taz comes back with a slam to Pitbull #2, followed by a belly-to-belly super-plex on Pitbull #1, and covers for the three count at around the 13-minute mark.

Post-Match, Taz, Scorpio, and Paul E. are a bit pissed off, with Scorpio eventually sucker punching Paul E. Scorpio tries to do the same to Taz, and Taz returns the favor with a Taz-Plex. With that out of the way, it's time to comment on the match. It wasn't a great example of tag formula wrestling, but it was all right, and with limited nonsense garbage brawling that is normally associated with the Pitbulls. It was also nice to have a (somewhat) clean finish as well. [**1/2]


- Because of the fact that the Luna/Beulah match ran about 5-seconds, the program has more time, so we're going to get a preview of next week's show, featuring the Public Enemy taking on Axl Rotten and a mystery partner. You know in wrestling "mystery partner" means "someone disappointing." In this case, it's Ian Rotten. Before the match can start, Bill Alfonso comes out to spoil the party and deny the teaming of Axl and Ian Rotten, because of a stipulation that occured months earlier. Someone call Sean Mooney, continuity is being paid attention to! After everyone leaves the P.E. in the ring by themselves, THE GANGSTAS (New Jack and Mustafa something or other) run into the ring and lay a shit kicking in on the Public Enemy as the credits roll.


Final Thoughts: Although it wasn't a spectacular episode, it derailed the crap that went on the previous few weeks. The Dreamer/Luna vs. Raven/Richards angle is touched on, the main event tag was decent enough considering I was never impressed with the Pitbulls, and we find out who was gunning for the Public Enemy.

ECW Hardcore T.V. - June 26th, 1995:


- With ten reviews in the book (5 for each show), don't expect another one for a few days at least. Plus I want to get some saved so I can post more than one at a time. Same premise as all the last episodes. Tazz introduces the show, with the occasional witty comment, and then we go to the action, with lots of 24/7 production edits because of legal issues over licensed music. Damn greedy musicians. I guess having millions of dollars isn't enough for them.


- If you missed last weeks preview, the Gangstas made their ECW debut, laying a shit-kicking in on the Public Enemy, until security actually cuff them both and are hauled away. That might be the first time I've seen that on television (not counting occasions that probably happend in Memphis on a daily basis). Joey Styles desperately tries to sell this as being a shoot, meaning even ECW wasn't immune to stupid crap like "what you saw was fake, but this is real" booking. I guess it's okay though, since I don't recall this happening on a nightly basis like in WWF and WCW during the Attitude era.


- Highlights (again) of the bad-blood between Tommy Dreamer and Raven. After adding Beulah and Luna Vachon to the mix, Raven and Richards brought in Luna's estranged husband the Vampire Warrior to make things even more confusing!


1. Tommy Dreamer vs. The Vampire Warrior:
An impromtu match, set up by an altercation during a ringside interview with Tommy Dreamer. For those who aren't too sure, Vamp' Warrior is probably better known for his WWF run(s) as Gangrel™, and is/was/whatever the real life husband of Luna Vachon. Now THAT's a freakin' weird couple. They trade blows outside the ring, and Warrior whips Dreamer into the steel rail. Up the aisle, and Warrior connects with a bulldog on the concrete. Warrior throws Dreamer into a door and completely whiffs on a chair shot attempt. Luna nails him with a chair from behind, but he doesn't sell it. Dreamer is busted open, despite the chair coming nowhere near his face. Dreamer sends Warrior into the ring, and connects with a skillet shot to the pair of eggs. Dreamer with a fall-away slam, sending Warrior back out of the ring. Dreamer with a brick(?) to the head, and smashes VW with a weird piece of steel. Another frying pan is used, and more weapon shots. Dreamer leads Warrior up the aisle and returns the bulldog from earlier. Into the crowd they go, and onto the broadcast stand, where lots of pointless spots are done. Dreamer with a chair shot, but Vamp barely sells it, and smashes Dreamer across the back in return. Through the crowd again, and back to ringside for more weapon blows. Luna, psycho of the year, wipes Warrior's blood across her face. A table is sent into the ring, because tables are EXTREME! Shit, that's a WWECW joke, not Original ECW. Irish whip, and Warrior with a clothesline. Dreamer comes back with a low blow and brings the table in again. Warrior with a DDT onto the table. Warrior sets up a chair for another DDT, but Dreamer back drops out of the attempt, and jumps off the chair into a DDT, and that gets the three count at around 7:15. Pointless garbage match, but at least it was kept short. Crowd chants "He's Hardcore", reminding me of some Cactus Jack promos mocking it from later in the year. [*1/2]


- Highlights of the Luna vs. Beulah match from last weeks episode of Hardcore TV. Hell, it's the whole match, since it only lasted 10-seconds, thanks to a sneak-attack chair shot from Stevie "The Goof" Richards. We get even more replays, of Raven beating down Dreamer and breaking his fingers. Then we get his promo. Again, a waste of 7-minutes because you don't need to show EVERYTHING in these recaps.


- Tommy Dreamer and Luna Vachon cut a promo on Raven and company, promising vengeance.


- EXTREME ENCYCLOPEDIA
(Unabridged 1995 Edition)

Jun'gle J'im Steele"-n."
(Deadus Meatus)
A Warrior of Ultimate proportions. This former star of the Ted Turner owned WCW organization has terrorized wrestling fans by his mere existance. That's the problem. Solution? Call 911.

Pa'ul E" Danger'ously-n.
(Dangerous Mouthus)
An oral loose cannon. A cell Phone junkie whose business mergers usually involve AT&T Portable and Blue Chip Human Skull. See Yuppius Psychosis; Scourge of Scarsdale, NYC's Night Mayor

911 -n.
Uh, Excuse US; but wE tHe ECW ProDuCTion teAm, Being HeaLth consCioUs, ReFusE to Write AnytHIng that HaS the cHance OF Offending THis ChoKE Slamming GIANT! In Other Words, WRITE YOUR OWN ENCYCLOPEDIA!!!!! We Hope Thats OK With You Mr. 911.


- We see highlights of 911 chokeslamming the "Jersey Devil" a record four times "last week" (although only one was shown last week). This leads us to...


2. 911 (w/ Paul E. Dangerously) vs. "Jungle" Jim Steele:
I wonder what's going to happen here... Jim Steele obviously gets a not-too-kind reception. Styles jokingly says Steele is stopping off between Atlanta and New York, but thankfully the shmuck never made it to WWF. The crowd chants "We Want Five" at 911, in reference to a number of chokeslams (obviously). Steele gives the "up yours" salute, which Styles comments is the universal sign of the jungle after mocking him being from the Florida Everglades. Steele "pumps himself up" and misses a charge into the corner. 911 chokeslams him to the unemployment line for the three count at the 35-second mark. Afterwards, 911 chokeslams Steele for a second time. 911 then chokeslams him a third time, and Paul E. dedicates it to CNN. We get a fourth chokeslam, but before that happens, Paul E. dedicares this one to his "brother in crime, the stupid goofy Renegade, who can't even imitate a decent gimmick." Then, finally, the fifth chokeslam is dedicated to Bill "Mother[bleep]" Alfonso. The match lasted 30-seconds, and the post-match stuff five-minutes. Go figure. [N/R]


- We get "extensive" highlights of a barbed-wire rope match between ECW Champion, the Sandman and Cactus Jack. Because of the violence and bloody images that go beyond those of regular matches, they aren't allowed to air much of the good stuff. Of course, saying "good match" and "Sandman" in the same sentence is pretty much the biggest joke of the century. Cactus Jack "wins" the ECW Title, but Alfonso says that the title can't change hands on a 10-count (a.k.a knockout), so he continues the match, with the Sandman retaining the title, by way of "Cactus being unable to continue". This match has probably been on the ECW Cactus Jack DVD, but who the fuck cares, all of their 500 matches sucked. You can see this match on the next ECW video release... but the number is removed from the screen because this was 12 years ago, and ECW has been out of business for half that time.


- The Sandman cuts a promo in a broom closet (ok, not really, but it's completely dark) while we see clips of him beating up on Cactus Jack and Shane Douglas.


- New Jack and Mustafa cut a promo outside the ECW Arena. New Jack does all of the talking, then Mustafa says something unintelligable at the end. [Tazz compliments their unique style of promos.]


Final Thoughts: Weird show here. If you look closely, it's not unlike what the WWECW shows were at first. Mocking "sports Entertainment" despite doing goofy shit themselves, and having a junk finish. The Alfonso stuff is still entertaining, thanks to the fact he's such an annoying rat bastard. If I have to sit through another god damn 10-minute "recap" of old segments, I'm killing someone.

Y'know...I think "Jungle" Jim made it to the WWF, around 1994-1996. Just as a jobber and probably never on TV. I remember reading a report of a house show Royal Rumble (won by Owen Hart) where Jim made an appearance. Supposedly, everyone thought it was Warrior coming out.