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Simon Watches ECW - 1996
Topic Started: Apr 13 2013, 09:33 PM (8,216 Views)
Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Eliminators, Since 2/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
July 23rd, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


The TV Title match airs and takes up all of the show, apart from various house show hype pieces.

A brief recap video of the match then airs, set to "Perfect Strangers" of course.
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Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Eliminators, Since 2/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
July 30th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


The Taz interview and attack on 911 opens the show.

Sabu vs. Louie Spicolli airs.

A replay of the SGP's attack on The Gangstas airs, and Joey Styles says they now have a warrant out for their arrest, but they attacked The Gangstas again in Allentown this past weekend.

THIS SUNDAY AT THE ECW ARENA - AUGUST 3RD:
-RAVEN VS. SANDMAN FOR THE ECW TITLE
-RVD VS. SABU IN THE STRETCHER MATCH
-THE ELIMINATORS VS. THE GANGSTAS VS. THE BRUISE BROTHERS VS. THE SAMOAN GANGSTA PARTY FOR THE TAG TITLES
-2 COLD SCORPIO VS. CHRIS JERICHO
-TAZ/BRIAN LEE VS. TOMMY DREAMER/ANY PARTNER OF HIS CHOICE!

Footage airs from a house show, where Brian Lee took out Terry Gordy with his own version of the Asiatic Spike.

In the back, Taz and Bill Alfonso talk to the Fan Cam, and Taz asks who his partner is gonna be now. He says he got rid of 911 and Varlans, and asks if he'll call up that fossil Terry Funk, and says he'll choke him out in a minute. Taz begs him to get Sabu as his partner, so that coward will finally fight him.

In the back, Tommy Dreamer says it's not Sabu and it's not Terry Funk, but it's one man he knows Taz sweats.

A video airs to hype up RVD/Sabu, set to "Until It Sleeps". Good stuff, a step back to the awesome music videos in 1995.

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Big Tuna
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Sabu vs. Chris Jericho, Plymouth Meeting, PA
This got taped for one of the later DVD releases, and it's these two, so I figured it worth a shot. They have some really fun matwork early on, and this is a Sabu Match through and through. I've managed to figure out exactly what that is over the course of the 1996 review, and at the same time, Sabu's also got it down to a science. Some opening matwork that's tight, but doesn't go anywhere. Early dives, tease a big spot, before bringing in chairs. Some basic stuff in the ring with the opponent showing off, before a flurry of huge spots at the end. Jericho isn't as good a Sabu opponent as Scorpio or Mikey, but he's better than Louie or RVD. They do stuff, and Sabu wins with the Triple Jump Moonsault.
***
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Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Eliminators, Since 2/3/1996


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ECW The Doctor Is In
August 3rd, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


JT Smith comes out and his music is now "You Make Me Feel So Young" by Sinatra. He takes cheap shots at fans, AND TAKES A SWING AT HAT GUY! FUCK YEAH! HIT HIM FOR REAL. He says he wanted to get his pal Frank Sinatra to play here, but the fans at the ECW didn't deserve it, so he got the greatest band in the world, KISS! AND STEVIE, MEANIE, AND NOVA COME OUT AS KISS! THEY FARGO STRUT TO "I WANNA ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT" AND IT'S THE GREATEST. The music cuts off and Stevie asks what they want next, AND MEANIE CHANTS "FREEBIRD" SO STEVIE SLAPS HIM! AMAZING! They play the same song again and Fargo Strut and lipsynch and it's pretty much the best. BUT "ENTER SANDMAN" COMES ON AND THEY ALL FREAK OUT! SANDMAN COMES FROM UNDER THE RING AND KILLS EVERYONE! He calls out Raven to have their match right now!

Lori & Tyler Fullington come out instead, and Sandman is sad. Raven comes out on crutches again, and he hands Lori his jacket and kisses Tyler on the forehead, so Sandman loses his shit, BUT STEVIE GETS BACK IN AND HITS THE STEVIEKICK! FUCK YEAH STEVIE! Raven then gets in and hits Sandman in the face with a brutal cane shot before leaving.

Match #1: Mikey Whipwreck [c] vs. Devon Storm w/ Damien Kane & Lady Alexandra [European Juniorweight Championship]
This is such a waste of Mikey. I feel like they totally shot him up to the World Title too soon, and now he has nothing to do. Mikey apparently beat that shiftless queen Dirt Bike Kid last night for this title. This is a match, and Mikey wins with the Frankenmikey.
*3/4

Match #2: Louie Spicolli vs. Johnny Smith

Smith uses "Sad But True" because LOLECW. He is a portly ugly looking dude who clearly emulates Dynamite Kid, but doesn't care enough to get in shape like your other big DK fans (Benoit, Davey, Eddie). This is a good showcase for both guys. Lots of holds and good looking Suplexes, but nothing in the way of substance. It's not overly long or anything, so this wasn't bad. Both men came out of this looking good, and Smith wins with a Liger Bomb.
**

D-Von Dudley vs. Axl Rotten is set to happen next, BUT BUBBA COMES OUT IMMEDIATELY TO ATTACK D-VON YEAH! The match is thrown out, and they get into a big pull-apart brawl. Chubby and Sign Guy try to break it up, but D-Von destroys them with chair shots again. D-Von then destroys Bubba with one to the head, but Bubba keeps getting up. D-Von keeps going back for more, until Big Dick Dudley comes out finally to save! He dares D-Von to hit him first and has his hands behind his back and presents his face, but D-Von leaves. Axl is on the floor watching, and he says he understands a lot about having a really fucked up family, so he wants to help him out to take these guys out. Why is Axl turning heel now? ANYWAYS, BUBBA GETS A GOD DAMNED NO HANDS PLANCHA SUICIDA AND DESTROYS D-VON'S NECK AGAINST THE RAILING JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. Axl rushes D-Von to the back, and The Dudley Family celebrates.

Raven comes out for the title match and has Lori and Tyler Fullington with him again. He says Sandman is faking an eye injury due to his cane shot, and says it's just like when he faked one two years ago, because The Sandman is a coward. He's doing what Lori did in the bedroom for ten years, faking it. He says he's the champ and he defends this when he wants to, and he doesn't want to. Stevie Richards comes out with Meanie and Nova and they have Tod Gordon with him. Stevie says he has good news, and Tod is smiling. Stevie says Raven will NOT have to defend the title tonight, and Raven says he finally has good news. AND STEVIE SAYS IT'S BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO DEFEND IT FOR HIM! YEAH! RAVEN BACKHANDS HIM AND HITS THE EVENFLOW! RAVEN KICKS THE SHIT OUT OF STEVIE! Tod says he might want to stop unless he plans on defending it himself, BECAUSE THE MATCH IS NOW! Raven flips out, AND THE SANDMAN COMES OUT AND CANES ALL THE JOBBERS AND GOES FOR RAVEN, BUT RAVEN PULLS TYLER IN THE WAY! TYLER DOES THE RAVEN POSE, AND SANDMAN CAN'T HIT HIM! AND STEVIE HITS A STEVIE KICK OUT OF NOWHERE!

Match #3: Stevie Richards [c] w/ Raven & Co. vs. The Sandman [ECW World Heavyweight Championship]
This was fun, but not so much great. Stevie has great work on the eye, but Sandman being Sandman, he never really sells it or anything. Big run of interference, as Meanie botches the Meaniesault and hits Stevie, and then Missy runs out to take out Lori, but she gets hit with the loaded boot. Sandman goes after Raven with the cane, BUT RAVEN PULLS TYLER ONTO HIS LAP TO SAVE! BUT STEVIE HITS THE LOADED BOOT! NO! Raven shoves Stevie away and takes the cover to retain his title.
**1/2

Match #4: 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Chris Jericho

This is Jericho's last match, and it delivers. Good matwork, quality spots, paced well, etc. What you expect from a prime Scorpio match. I still have no idea what the fuck his alignment is. He uses low blows and is cocky, but everyone loves him, and he's booked like a face most of the time. So I guess he's the proto RVD? Great finishing run, lots of crisp and inventive stuff. Jericho gets caught with a Tombstone, and Scorpio uses a Shooting Star Press for the win.
***

In the ring, Joey Styles brings out The Pitbulls, and #1 has the full head and back brace on. He has a broken neck and fractured skull as a result of the DDT from Shane Douglas at Heatwave, and he's partially paralyzed. He says he'll never be able to get his revenge, because he'll never be able to wrestle again. LOL. Great angle, but Gary Wolfe pretending it's real and he was legit crippled is still the worst. He says his partner will carry on the Pitbull legacy, and Shane and Francine have gotten the last laugh on him, but his heart is still in wrestling, and he loves everyone. He takes a seat on the floor to watch.

Joel Gertner gets in to do an amazing intro for Shane and Francine.

Match #5: Shane Douglas [c] vs. Pitbull #2 [ECW Television Championship]
Francine and #1 are both present on the floor. This wasn't that good, at all. In fact, it was incredibly disappointing and soured me on both guys after they had good showings the last few months. They did some brawling, and it was way too even. The clips of their June match where Shane was working his Flair act and bumping everywhere, that looked amazing, but this was kind of this sluggish brawl. It finally picked up after like 10 minutes when Shane works over a cut. But this being these two, #2 kicked out of like several chain shots, a chair shot, A FUCKING PILEDRIVER ON A CHAIR COME THE FUCK ON, and then hulked up out of the Side Belly to Belly, before a second one finally ended it. Blegh.
**

Joel Gertner is a dick about the announcement, and #2 grabs his leg. He gets up, so Shane tosses the chain to Gertner and bails. Gertner shoves the ref in his way, and the ref eats the Superbomb for no reason because #2 is a sore loser. He doesn't leave though, so he also gets one. #2 celebrates. What is he celebrating? He lost fairly clean, since he was using chairs and shit too early on, and his best friend is a cripple.

The tag match is up next, AND TOMMY'S PARTNER IS GOD DAMN DR. DEATH STEVE WILLIAMS!

Match #6: Tommy Dreamer/Steve Williams w/ Beulah vs. Brian Lee/Taz w/ Team Taz
This is good shit. Not great, but it builds up Tommy/Lee while also having Taz and Doc carry the in-ring part of the match that always drags down this never ending Tommy/Lee feud. Taz and Doc have some fun matwork in an amateur style, but Doc overpowers Taz, so bombs are thrown. Everything breaks down, AND TOMMY DIES DUE TO A TAZPLEX OFF THE STAGE THROUGH SOME TABLES! AND BEULAH AND FONZIE FIGHT! YES! Doc has an amazing run fighting by himself before Tommy can come back. He tries a DDT on a garbage can, but is still weak, and Brian Lee Chokeslams him on it to win.
**3/4

Match #7: The Eliminators [c] vs. The Gangstas vs. The Bruise Brothers vs. The Samoan Gangsta Party [ECW Tag Team Championship - Elimination Match]

This happens. SGP are luckily out early via The Gangstas. Joey says they escaped jail for that, and they are still in handcuffs. Great. Eliminators get rid of the DOA, and as everyone knew, it comes down to a nice Elims/Gangstas brawl. But it's only like 2 minutes unfortunately, and then New Jack pulls Saturn in the way of Kronus' kick to block Total Elimination. Mustafa slams Kronus and New Jack hits the 187 to win the titles!
*1/2

The Eliminators argue, and The Gangstas have this big awesome celebration.

Match #8: Sabu vs. Rob Van Dam [Stretcher Match]
They fuck up the rules so instead of a line, people will load anyone who's down for a while on a stretcher, and you have to get off before they take you to the back. Also it's 23 minutes. This is the most "RVD" performance yet with all his now famous spots beginning to debut. They have some cool spots as usual, but the stretcher stuff really breaks up the flow the way the rules are here. Plus, y'know, it goes on way too fucking long. Sabu is being wheeled out, but RVD tries a flip dive off the top to him, BUT SABU MOVES AND RVD HITS THE STRETCHER AND DIES. He gets wheeled out then and Sabu wins. Okay, at least it's over, from what I've been told.
**1/4
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Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
August 6th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


The amazing FBI/KISS/Sandman segment opens the show.

The Dudleys segment then airs.

Sandman vs. Stevie is up next.

ECW ARENA RETURN - AUGUST 24TH!

The Tag Title match ends the show.
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Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
August 13th, 1996
Tokyo, Japan


Matches tonight are from Korakuen Hall as some ECW guys were booked on an IWA-Japan show, but they show a shot of the Tokyo Dome for some reason.

Outside on the ledge, Raven cuts a promo. He says Tommy Dreamer finally got him all alone with no flunkies, lackeys, or nothing. He says it's the same way they stole the belt from Tyson, but he won't lose like him, because Tommy Dreamer can't beat him anywhere, no matter what. Because Tommy Dreamer has never been able to beat him at anything. Quote the Raven, nevermore.

Clips air of Japanese people buying ECW t-shirts.

In the back, Tommy Dreamer is with Terry Gordy. Gordy says he talked to Terry Funk a few days ago when he went back home and said this used to be his building, but tonight it's his, and Funk told him he knows Tommy can do it. Gordy thanks him for bringing him here and teaming with him, and The Eliminators come in. Saturn said just because Kronus screwed up doesn't mean they're still not the best team in the world. Saturn says when they're back in the States, they'll put Gordy on his death bed for good.

Match #1: The Eliminators vs. Takashi Okano/Keisuke Yamada
This happened. The Japs here are generic rookies and never became anything of note. This is thusly an Eliminators showcase, and 14 minutes is way too long for that. Joey Styles tries to claim Saturn invented the Orange Crush, because he's the shittiest smart announcer ever. They end one of them with the Total Elimination.
*1/2

Match #2: Raven [c] vs. Tommy Dreamer w/ Beulah [ECW World Heavyweight Championship]

The "world" status is finally justified! This is a really fun 10 minutes, as expected. Interesting to see them robbed of the
dog and pony show, or at least with it majorly restricted, but it wasn't as good without it. Brawling was less chaotic and full of hate than usual. Stevie came out to interfere from the crowd, and then Meanie's girl, but they need more pieces than that for the way everything works. They're also helped a ton by crazy hot ECW Arena crowds, where as the Japanese were mostly quiet and then reacted like it's all a novelty for them, which it was, and that hurt it because they didn't really CARE. Tommy Piledrives the Meanie slut, but Raven blindsides him with a nasty chair shot to win.
**1/2
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Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
August 20th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


In a pretape, New Jack tells this amazing story of how his sister's baby boy was shot by a stray bullet in the projects as he was sleeping in his bed, and when he heard, he knew. He called Mustafa and said they were done having fun and beating people up, and they needed the titles, because he needed the money. He needed the money to try and move what was left of his family out of the projects and out of the ghetto, and he was going to use this first check to get his nephew a real nice tombstone and send him out proper.

An amazing Gangstas video airs, obviously set to "Natural Born Killaz".

Shane Douglas vs. Pitbull #2 and the pre & post-match airs.

ECW ARENA - AUGUST 24TH - "NATURAL BORN KILLAZ":
-THE GANGSTAS VS. THE ELIMINATORS IN A STEEL CAGE MATCH FOR THE BELTS
-PITBULL #2 & THE SANDMAN VS. SHANE DOUGLAS & RAVEN IN A DOUBLE DOG COLLAR MATCH!
-TERRY GORDY VS. BRIAN LEE
-LORI FULLINGTON VS. MISSY HYATT
-TAZ VS. TOMMY DREAMER
-BUBBA/BIG DICK VS. D-VON/AXL

PULP FICTION:
-Shane Douglas asks why he should feel sorry for somebody who already gets the best parking spots and a free shot into the Special Olympics, and says they have better things to do than pay tribute to Pitbull #1, like each other.
-Brian Lee says Tommy should stop getting people to come after him and do it himself
-Taz says if Doc shows his face in ECW again, that stretching was only the beginning
-Bubba has a chair and asks D-Von how he likes his receipt
-New Jack has the tag titles, and talks to Mustafa off screen, and says he told him what he'd spend this first check on, BUT THE ELIMINATORS ATTACK! Saturn says screw him and that hood rat's tombstone, AND SATURN WALKS OFF WITH THEIR CASH! AWESOME!
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Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

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ECW Natural Born Killaz
August 24th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


This is the last commercially released ECW Arena show before N2R, the rest will be covered on TV.

Before the opening match, Taz grabs the camera in the back. He says if RVD wants to go and be friends and be with Sabu now, that's fine. He said he told him how to beat Sabu, but he also told him how Sabu can beat him. He dares RVD to tell his new friend that so he'll be a man and face him now. He tells him do him the favor of telling Sabu about his Achilles' heel, because it won't matter. He says Tommy Dreamer is caught in the crossface, and Van Dam's ass is gonna get kicked soon, and says Sabu has no reason to avoid his challenge now.

Match #1: Louie Spicolli vs. Devon Storm w/ Damien Kane & Lady Alexandra
This is weird. Storm works face and Louie works heel, but Storm has heel managers. Louie dismantles the knee, and it's fun. He then wins with a DVD.
**

Damien Kane fires Storm and offers his services to Louie, but he kills him with the DVD too.

Match #2: Mikey Whipwreck [c] vs. Little Guido w/ FBI [European Juniorweight Championship]
Good and fun match. They're just doing moves basically, but they're good at that. FBI keeps interfering, but in a bad way, as it keeps breaking up the flow of the match. Mikey makes his comeback and hits the exceptionally sloppy Frankenmikey for the win.
**1/4

Before his match, D-Von shits on the crowd and says he'll tell them what he tells his wife, and that's not to start anything until he finishes. He shits on the crowd, calling out and naming Long Haired Faggot in the WWF Shirt, telling Straw Hat Fan to get a fucking life and take a bath, before calling everyone here a piece of shit.

Match #3: Bubba Ray Dudley/Big Dick Dudley w/ Sign Guy Dudley & Dances With Dudley vs. D-Von Dudley/Axl Rotten
Axl has died his hair black and has new even worse "gear". This was a fun brawl, and Bubba especially put on an amazing performance. NASTY slaps, awesome hate, great no-selling (which is kind of an art), some cool dives, etc. And it ends when it should too, which is a great feature for arena brawls. Big Dick moves and D-Von hits Axl with a chair. He bails away from Big Dick, who then Reverse Chokeslams Bubba on Axl to win.
**1/2

Missy vs. Lori is supposed to happen, but Joel Gertner says it will NOT happen. THANK GOD! He shows off Missy's broken arm, and says if she insists on ripping off clothes tonight, she can come to Room 503 and bring change for a $20, SO SHE CANES HIM! She only has one good arm so Sandman grabs the cane and does it with actual force. Stevie Richards and The Blue Meanie come into the ring now. Stevie says he's willing to drop his massive lawsuit against Missy if she denounces The Sandman publicly right now! She does it and she insults his whiskey dick and says he isn't making her that much money and this lawsuit would only cost her m -- AND SANDMAN DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT AND KILLS HER WITH A CANE SHOT! FUCKING FINALLY!

Match #4: Terry Gordy vs. Brian Lee [Badstreet Match]
This is a useless match in ECW. This is at least short at 5 minutes, and Gordy tries hard. They have a fun brawl outside and back in, and Gordy hits a massive Lariat in the ring. He then puts on the Asiatic Spike in revenge, and that ends the match.
**1/4

Match #5: Rob Van Dam vs. Doug Furnas

FUCK YEAH! This is an enjoyable sequel to the RVD/Kroffat (Lafon) match from AJPW in 1995. RVD's grown a lot since then, and he has more offense to show off here. Joey tries to claim the Can-Ams are the most successful tag team in Japan. They didn't win Tag World or any heavyweight title belts. Shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up AND PRAISE THE GODDAMNED HOLY DEMON ARMY, YOU FUCKING RUBE, JOEY. Furnas just ends RVD's worthless life at least 5 times in this, and RVD takes these goddamned ridiculous bumps. Against a lunatic powerhouse trying to end his life, RVD's stuff feels desperate and like he's fighting to live. This is my new favorite non-gimmick RVD match ever. HE EATS A BELLY TO BELLY ON HIS FACE OUT OF THE AIR JESUS CHRIST. THEN A ONE-ARMED RELEASE TOMBSTONE. THIS IS THE JOE VS. NECRO OF ECW SPOTFESTS WITHOUT ANY MEANING. Furnas kills RVD with chair shots, but when Furnas raises the chair to shove the ref away, RVD POPS UP TO HIT A VAN DAMINATOR TO WIN! That did more than 4 months of a Sabu feud, and it took 14 minutes for Doug MOTHERFUCKING Furnas to establish RVD as a guy who can pull a win out of the air and as a tough motherfucker.
***1/2

RVD goes for a handshake, BUT FURNAS MURDERS HIM WITH A LARIAT! YES! He beats the fuck out of him with a chair and gets a standing ovation. RVD is stretchered out.

Match #6: Taz vs. Tommy Dreamer
Team Taz and Beulah are at ringside. Tommy has hurt ribs, so Taz works them over. He really just destroys Tommy all match, and it's good and entertaining. Tommy has a flurry with weapon shots, but Taz finally cuts him off. He's set to use the chair to end it, but the ref takes it, SO THE REF DIES ON A T-BONE! He puts Tommy through a table too and does Sabu's pose. Taz chokes out Tommy, AND TERRY GORDY COMES OUT TO SAVE! BUT THE ELIMINATORS HIT HIM WITH TOTAL ELIMINATION! BRIAN LEE COMES OUT TO PUT THE SPIKE ON GORDY! ONE ON A NEW REF! ONE ON PABLO MARQUEZ! DON E. ALLEN GETS ONE! BAD CREW DIES TOO! TAZ LETS GO AND BRIAN LEE CHOKESLAMS BUBBA! THE OTHER DUDLEYS ALSO DIE! THEN HACK MYERS DIES OFF A T-BONE FROM TAZ! The Eliminators hold Taz's arms up, and I guess that's the end of the match. Great angle to set up a Taz/Eliminators vs. Tommy/MVC match. That happens, right?
**1/2

The Sandman is out alone, and he says he has no wife, no son, no manager, and he doesn't even have a partner to replace Pitbull #2 because Scorp isn't here either. He says Raven and Shane Douglas attacked Pitbull #2 in Reading, PA and maybe broke his neck too, but what he does have is his life, and all he has now is being the King of Extreme, and dares them to come and take his life, if that's what Raven wants.

Match #7: The Sandman/Pitbull #2 vs. Raven/Shane Douglas w/ The Nest & Francine [Double Dog Collar Match]
Pitbull #2 does come too, but not for a while. They use the stips well, and whatever. Sandman has some awesome desperate comebacks, but mostly gets killed for an absurdly long time. Pitbull #2 finally can take no more and comes out with a neck brace on! The timing on that was weird. I don't have an issue with the layout if that's the transition to the finishing run, but it then settled into a normal match for a while, so it was like it came halfway through. #2 ends up grabbing the loaded boot from Raven and hitting him with it for the win. Shane sees the pin beginning and leaves the match.
**1/2

Pitbull #2 leaves, and The Sandman gets up. He runs off Stevie and Meanie and Nova with the cane, and he calls for Tyler to come in while Raven is down. Sandman gets on his knees for a hug, and Tyler walks over. They're going to hug, but Tyler takes the cane and weakly canes Sandman, since he's like 6 or 7 AND OH MY GOD, IT'S SO SAD TO WATCH. RAVEN RUNA ON AND CHEAP SHOTS SANDMAN AND CANES HIM BEFORE LEAVING WITH TYLER AGAIN. :( This is like 10x better than Raven/Dreamer.

The rules for the Steel Cage Weapons Match see four masked men in corners on the floor who can throw in weapons when called for.

Match #8: The Gangstas [c] vs. The Eliminators [ECW Tag Team Championship - Steel Cage Weapons Match]
Really fun brawl. They start on the floor, AND SATURN JUMPS OFF THE TOP OF THE CAGE TO EVERYONE ON THE FLOOR! FUCK YEAH! Saturn keeps jumping off the cage onto people because he's a lunatic. It finally gets in and it's solid brawling stuff. One of the masked men unmasks as Shane Douglas, and he only gives stuff to The Eliminators. NEW JACK THROWS A GARBAGE CAN AT SATURN UP TOP, AND HE FALLS OFF THE TOP THROUGH A TABLE JESUS CHRIST. Kronus is all alone, and the 187 does him in. Fuck it. Loved it.
***

The Eliminators argue when they get up, but Douglas calms them down and flashes the Triple Threat sign at them. Not opposed to this.
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Big Tuna
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
August 27th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


RVD vs. Doug Furnas opens the show.

Footage airs of the end of a Raven/Sandman match from a house show. Missy and Lori get into a fight, and Lori injures Missy's arm with cane shots. Sandman gets rid of Stevie and grabs Lori to try a DDT, but Raven hits him with the loaded boot for the win.

ECW ARENA - SEPTEMBER 14TH:
-SABU RETURNS
-RAVEN VS. PITBULL #2 FOR THE ECW TITLE
-TOMMY DREAMER/MIRACLE GODDAMNED VIOLENCE CONNECTION VS. BRIAN LEE/THE ELIMINATORS

Louie Spicolli vs. Johnny Smith airs.

PULP FICTION:
-The FBI runs up the steps like Rocky
-Taz asks if people think he sweats Dreamer, and says Sabu KNOWS he doesn't sweat him, and says to bring it on. He challenges Dr. Death to come to get his receipt.
-Brian Lee says if Tommy Dreamer wants to be a martyr, he'll help him out, because the best thing about a martyr is that someone's got to kill them
-Tommy says he's no martyr, and he may have a death wish, but he's taking Brian Lee with him
-D-Von says he can't wait until the next family gathering
-Bubba says the best part about family is that they still love one another after they fight, and he loves D-Von enough to bust his face in
-New Jack says they've always wanted to be the best at something. They tried carjacking, but Mustafa says this dude in Jersey was better. They tried rolling their women, but Mustafa says this dude from Houston was better. New Jack says now they're the best tag team in the world, and nobody's better.
-Damien Kane speaks
-The Gangstas say they're going to do anything to keep these belts, because they don't want to go back to the projects without any heat in the winter
-Pitbull #1 says an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a neck for a neck
-Joey Styles says RVD and Doug Furnas will have a Dream Partner Tag Team Match, and Furnas says he doesn't need to dream, and he selects Dan Kroffat! YEAH!
-RVD says that's a hell of a team, but they need to learn some respect. RVD says his partner will teach them about respect because he taught him the meaning of the word, and RVD points to the sky like Sabu
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
September 3rd, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


At the beach, Shane Douglas swims to shore and Francine waits for him. Sup? He says everyone now is watching the Jerry Lewis telethon and the ECW fans are writing letters and begging Jerry to raise just one more dollar so maybe Pitbull #1 can wrestle again. He says this swim was nothing more than a light workout for The Franchise, but it's something Pitbull #2 will never do again. Spending a day at the beach isn't strenuous, but it's something that he can never do. Francine says speaking of strenuous, Gary can't do this either and she walks away, and Shane says he can though!

A Pitbulls tribute video airs to "Thunder Kiss '65". THIS MEANS THE SONG FOLLOWS THE SONG FROM THE INTROS. GODDAMNIT ECW.

A video airs where Paul Heyman tells RVD that Sabu won't be his partner after their last few months. RVD says Sabu taught him about respect and he needs his help now, and Paul tells him to look it up in a fucking dictionary or something then, so RVD shoves him and says Sabu will be his partner.

Back in the building, Joey Styles says Paul likes to take the screws to people, so he's booked RVD/Sabu AGAIN on September 13th in a show nobody sees, because those who want respect give respect.

ADDED TO SEPTEMBER 14TH - ECW ARENA - "WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE"
-TAZ VS. JOHNNY SMITH
-THE GANGSTAS DEFEND THE TITLES!

Stevie Richards vs. The Sandman airs now.

Louie Spicolli vs. Devon Storm is next.

Then Taz vs. Tommy Dreamer.

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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
September 10th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


Exclusive video opens the show of Terry Gordy being stretchered out after the brawl.

Hilariously, they then air Brian Lee vs. Terry Gordy. LOL MATCH PLACEMENT.

ADDED TO "WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE" ON 9/14:
-SHANE DOUGLAS VS. LOUIE SPICOLLI FOR THE TV TITLE!

Bubba/Big Dick vs. D-Von/Axl airs.

In the basement, Raven cuts a promo with Lori Fullington on his lap. He says inside this woman's body began the evolution of The Sandman's successor. He goes on and on about pregnancy, and says he was disowned by his family, denied his birthright. He says Tyler had parents that wanted him, and no matter how hateful, vicious, and violent the differences between them are, the bother between father and son can never be broken. Lori says until now, and she throws up the Raven pose.

PULP FICTION:
-In a swimming pool, Shane Douglas dives in to swim laps. He tells Francine to call Gary and get him down here, and he says he'll race him. Back stroke, freestyle, or her favorite, the breast stroke. Francine says that's her man, and blows a kiss to the camera.
-Bubba says D-Von brought this on himself when he wanted to make The Dudleys hardcore
-Back at the beach, Shane and Francine are in the water. Shane says all Gary has to do is swim out here, and she's all his.
-Pitbull #1 repeats an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, and a neck for a neck
-Little Guido says he's tougher than Rocky and slaps the statue
-Brian Lee says he gets paid to take people out
-Steve Williams just stares into the camera
-Taz says signing an open contract means Johnny Smith doesn't fear him, and that makes hims mad, so he's going to beat some fear into him
-JT Smith has to pull Little Guido off of the statue
-In the ghetto, The Gangstas say you're in the wrong place for headlocks and toe holds, but if they want tables, neck snapping, and wig splitting, now you're home.
-Lori screams that she wants The Sandman to die
-Brian Lee has The Eliminators, and Saturn yells "DOC AND GORDY!" over and over as he punches his cuts back open. He says everyone in Japan said The Eliminators could be the #1 tag team, if not for Doc and Gordy, and he's sick of it. MVC hadn't been a tag team since 1993, so this is kind of hilarious.
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
September 17th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


Video airs from this past weekend to open the shows. Yet again, Sandman dismantles the Nest with cane shots, but Tyler stands in front of Raven, allowing Raven to sneak in the Evenflow. Tyler then stands over his dad and does Raven's pose.

Another video airs, and it's a home movie of Tyler's 7th birthday party. Blue Meanie is a clown, and this is hilariously terrible. Tyler says this sucks and throws things at him. Tyler finds a present from his dad, so Raven destroys it. I very much enjoy that this shows Raven outright hating Tyler and Lori as time goes on and just being in it to fuck with Sandman.

Instead of getting the rights to use the segment on Inside Edition about ECW, they just aired video of someone recording the segment from a camera in front of a TV. EC Fucking W. Kudos to Taz and Bubba Ray for not breaking character at all.

ECW ARENA RETURN - OCTOBER 5TH!

In a pretape, Beulah drips candle wax on Tommy Dreamer's fists and arms and he says no matter how bad the pain is, he'll keep coming back for more against Brian Lee, and he hasn't forgotten about the one controlling him either.

OCTOBER 5TH - "ULTIMATE JEOPARDY '96":
-RAVEN/BRIAN LEE VS. SANDMAN/TOMMY IN AN ULTIMATE JEOPARDY MATCH
-NOPE, NOT GONNA TELL US THE STIPS? COOL.

Clips air from the 9/13 show where the Unlocky Lottery paired The Gangstas vs. Shane Douglas and whichever SGP member Samu was. They easily squashed Samu, who was severely injured already with neck stitches, when Shane never tagged in, avoiding The Gangstas. At least he beat that jail time, right? Shane was mad at Samu after the match and hit him from behind with the TV Title and tore out his stitches.

In a pretape, The Gangstas talk about Shane Douglas, and they say he knows what they can do to people. New Jack holds up the Triple Threat sign and says the three fingers are gonna get broke. He says if they see him, they're gonna put him through the meat grinder boy, and he better be watching his back. They gonna get his pretty little ass. New Jack says he'll give Samu his props for getting in there with them all cut up and stitched up, and they're gonna give the Samoan Gangsta Party a title shot as props, but then they're going down again.

BUY NATURAL BORN KILLAZ! By my flawed grading system, it's the best ECW show yet match-wise!

Match #1: Shane Douglas [c] w/ Francine vs. Louie Spicolli [ECW Television Championship]
Really enjoyable match. Great to see Shane again having a legitimate opponent to work a wrestling match with. Shane has near nuclear heat, and I miss when that was possible on a smaller scale like this. He has actual cops come out with him and shit, and hey, Francine's outfits get sluttier and sluttier each show. Wonderful. I kind of loved the stalling. Shane is more Tully than Flair now, being an outright chickenshit coward. TV Title helps Shane out a lot too as it means he only gets like 10-15 minutes and he's better like that. This is great TV Champion/Midcarder match. Midcarder gets to shine and show his stuff off, and Champion hangs on by the skin of his teeth. They take a while to get going, but once they do, it's good shit. Shane hits a Hangman's Neckbreaker after Francine interferes, and then hits the Side Belly to Belly for the win.
**1/2

Louie is stretchered out. They really fucking love the stretcher angle in 1996.

Coming back, that fucking vagabond cocksucker Lance Wright tries to interview Shane Douglas in the ring, but Joel Gertner takes the mic. He says he doesn't like sharing the positions of ECW Host with Joey Styles, so he surely won't share it with Hype Boy. Lance says he was assigned this, so Joel dismisses him. Joel slaps him, so Lance tackles him. Shane pulls Lance off and hits a Divorce Court. He puts on a Full Nelson until Pitbull #2 comes out to save.
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The pack of rare stuff from 1996 finished downloading finally, so I can finally review this!

Raven [c] vs. 2 Cold Scorpio [ECW World Heavyweight Championship], Plymouth Meeting (May 31st)
This was more a Raven match than a Scorpio match, but Scorpio adapted well and added something different to the usual Raven Title Match. Very much a house show performance too, but it's all fun, so whatever. Scorpio has some awesome strikes and offense, and Raven does his thing well. Scorpio cuts off all the interference, but it causes him to a miss a Moonsault, and Raven loads up the boot and kicks him to win.
**3/4
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
September 24th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA

Match #1: The Sandman vs. Devon Storm w/ Julio Caesar Valentino Alfonso & The Bad Crew

This was fun for 3 minutes! Devon flips and flies everywhere and he has people on the floor interfering to add something. He's also finally working more heelish, and this is fine heel undercard act. And they are fodder for Sandman to cane the fuck out of, and he wins with the White russian Legsweep.
*3/4

Sandman canes and DDTs both Bad Crew members, and pins them also. Oh, okay then. He then also destroys Fonzie's Cuban cousin.

An official PSA pops up with a phone number and Heyman talking in a serious voice. Heyman says he's offering a $200 reward to any fan who may have attended a wrestling event this past Sunday Night in Philadelphia or a wrestling event the following night in Hershey Park, and if they have video documentation of ECW's presence there, to send it in and Heyman will reward them. Timeline shows they mean WWF Mind Games and Raw, but I don't know what really happaned here.

A video of the Douglas/Pitbulls feud airs, set to "Simply The Best" again.

The FBI comes out, and JT sings "Fly Me To The Moon" again. He says everyone knows that Tupac Shakur died this past weekend in Las Vegas, and what people don't know is that he was Sicilian, so he dedicates this to him. "California Love" comes on and they dance horribly. This is amazing. BUT THEN "NATURAL BORN KILLAZ" HITS AND THE GANGSTAS COME OUT TO MURDER THEM! YEAH!

Match #2: The Gangstas [c] vs. JT Smith/Little Guido w/ Sal Bellomo [ECW Tag Team Championship]
This was a total squash, but it was a lot of fun. Guido completely died on several weapon shots and bumps and somehow, New Jack pins Sal with the 187 for the win.
*3/4

ULTIMATE JEOPARDY STIPS:
-If Sandman loses, he's caned 10 times
-If Tommy loses, Beulah leaves ECW
-If Brian Lee loses, Brian Lee and Stevie's heads will be shaved
-Raven's ECW Title is on the line

Match #3: Sabu/Rob Van Dam vs. The Can-Am Express
Well, this was great. Actual roles again! Sabu and RVD have a great sort of Ace & Young Guy dynamic while also clearly being at odds. RVD has dickish tags throughout and keeps stealing Sabu's glory. There's tons of cool spots and whatever. This is clearly the match you'd expect it to be. Furnas hits Sabu with a Reverse Superplex and Joey freaks out about that being a new Tazplex and said Taz went to the Can-Ams and taught them that, DESPITE TAZ NEVER FUCKING USING THE MOVE. ALSO, TAZ ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS SUPLEXES. NOT LIKE THEY SPENT THE LAST 5+ YEARS IN A PROMOTION SPECIALIZING IN NEW AND INSANE MOVES. Anyways, this goes to a 30 minute draw and like you'd expect, it suffers from some dead points, but was mostly very good. The mad scramble in the last several minutes for a pin was a nice thing to see instead of a drawn out epic ending.
***1/4

The crowd wants 5 more minutes, and Sabu is the only one who really wants it, and motions for it. Kroffat counts to five on his hand, AND SLAPS THE SHIT OUT OF SABU! YEAH! The Can Ams leave, and Sabu is mad. He threatens RVD and is mad at him being a dick all match, and have a tense handshake before splitting.

In the back as Joey hypes up next week, Taz and Bill Alfonso come over with a sign saying "SABU FEARS TAZ". He says he's always going to spread the word of ECW every time he has a chance, but not with the signs or phrases ECW wants. Not Join The Revolution or Politically Incorrect and Damn Proud of it, no. ECW, the home of the one man Sabu fears. TAZ!
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
October 1st, 1996
Philadelphia, PA

Match #1: Taz w/ Team Taz vs. Johnny Smith

I enjoyed this a lot. They got 8 minutes and had some nice matwork. Taz had great work on the arm, but Smith didn't feel like selling, so they then just did some moves. Taz murders him with some Suplexes, and puts on the Tazmission to win.
**1/4

Taz gets on the mic and says he let go early, because he earned his respect. Taz says he doesn't respect that motherfucker Sabu, that scarred up piece of shit. He dares him to accept the challenge, and he does Sabu's pose.

Footage airs of the ECW wrestlers at Mind Games and Raw. During this, Joey Styles reveals that the WWF has signed Lance Wright. HILARIOUS.

At When Worlds Collide, New Jack threw a slop bucket on Meanie's girl, and they got mad and challenged The Gangstas to a title match this past weekend in Allentown. Mustafa was detained at the airport, so New Jack is all alone, and Stevie and Meanie hilariously come out in Public Enemy jerseys doing that whole shtick.

Match #2: New Jack [c] vs. Stevie Richards/The Blue Meanie [ECW Tag Team Championship]
Fun few minute showcase for New Jack. He avoids the Meaniesault obviously, and beats Meanie with the 187.
*1/4

New Jack keeps killing him, BUT STEVIE HITS THE STEVIE KICK! FUCK YEAH! They surprisingly get the best of New Jack with weapon shots for a while. Stevie puts a garbage can over New Jack' and Meanie hits the Meaniesault AND IT FINALLY CONNECTS! HOLY SHIT WHAT?! They leave New Jack down.

In the "hood", Stevie and The Blue Meanie are now Public Enemy, and they do an AMAZING parody of the horrible PE promo voices. Stevie says if Razor and Diesel can be on Raw, then they can be The Public Enemy in ECW, and they yell "THANK YOU VIIIIIIIIINCE!" They say they're in ECW to get revenge on The Gangstas and say this Saturday in the ECW Arena, they're taking their titles back. This is amazing.

Match #3: Tommy Dreamer/Miracle Violence Connection vs. Brian Lee/The Eliminators
This is clipped a lot, but it's still really good for the 6 minutes aired. The main goal here is building up MVC/Elims, and both teams impress a ton. Brian Lee and Tommy are sort of just also there, but they mostly stay out of the way or at least manage to hold their own for brief periods. Gordy gets Lee in the Asiatic Spike, BUT GETS HIT WITH TOTAL ELIMINATION WHILE APPLYING THE HOLD! THE ELIMINATORS WIN!
**3/4

In the back, Joey Styles recaps the Gordy return in painstakingly detailed fashion, until the MVC comes on. Gordy says he can't live with himself until they take The Eliminators down, and says they're going to eliminate them for a change. Joey asks Doc to speak, and he laughs briefly and glares at the camera like a psychopath.

ADDED TO "ULTIMATE JEOPARDY":
-THE GANGSTAS VS. STEVIE & MEANIE FOR THE TAG TITLES
-SHANE DOUGLAS VS. PITBULL #2 FOR THE TV TITLE
-TAZ VS. JOHNNY SMITH II
-BUBBA RAY DUDLEY VS. D-VON DUDLEY

PULP FICTION:
-Joey recaps the Shane/Pitbulls feud. I hate you. He announces ELIMINATORS VS. MVC ON OCTOBER 26TH IN THE ECW ARENA! YEAH!
-The Eliminators says ECW promised them competition. They beat the Steiners, The Pitbulls, The Bruise Brothers, The Gangstas, and they ruined Doc and Gordy's reunion. They've proven they're the best, nad if Doc and Gordy want to go head to head, they can bring it on. Kronus cackles like a hyena.
-Joey plugs the tickets going on sale for 10/26 this weekend
-Joey says a new Dudley debuted at When Worlds Collide, 18 YEAR OLD SPIKE DUDLEY! FUCK YEAH!
-Clips air from the show of Bubba throwing Spike off the stage as a weapon onto D-Von and Axl
-Joey again recaps the Ultimate Jeopardy stips
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This isn't aired on TV, so here it is!

Terry Gordy vs. Bam Bam Bigelow, Ultimate Jeopardy (October 5th)
This is from one of the ECW comp. tapes/DVDs, so thank god it exists in some form. Awesome 10 minute power battle. Athletic big dudes stiffing each other and hurling each other around the ring for 10 minutes is one of the best match styles there is. Unfortunately, they kind of gave that up to work chinlocks in the middle. No wonder this didn't make air, it's kind of disappointing. Good finishing run though, so it's like a sandwich with amazing bread and then spam. The Eliminators run in and hit Total Elimination, and Bammer then hits a Diving Headbutt to win.
**1/2
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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Raven, Since 1/27/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
October 8th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


Stevie and Meanie come out as Public Enemy and they do the awful PE voices. Meanie says their surprise isn't here, but he has a surprise, HE'S SOBER! SURPRISE! Stevie says that's first but goes back into his real voice. He says they can't do this and they can't be Public Enemy, BECAUSE HE'S NOT FAT ENOUGH TO BE JOHNNY GRUNGE! FUCK YEAH! Stevie calls The Gangstas out so they can kick their fucking ass and win the tag titles! FUCK YEAH GIVE THEM THE TITLES!

Match #1: The Gangstas [c] vs. Stevie Richards/The Blue Meanie [ECW Tag Team Championship]
This was a decent two minute brawl, before The Eliminators ran out and destroyed both teams, before holding up the belts.
*

In the back, Joey goes on another long diatribe recapping a long history and shows how Stevie brought in Raven and Beulah and then Raven doing horrible stuff to Tommy and Sandman.

OCTOBER 26TH - ECW ARENA:
-ELIMINATORS VS. MVC
-CAN-AMS VS. RVD/SABU II

I have no idea what happens in this next segment. Mikey is in the ring with Devon Storm and The Bad Crew, so that match is probably up. The FBI then comes out and attacks Mikey, and then Devon Storm and The Bad Crew leave. The bell rings, and JT Smith starts wrestling Mikey. What the fuck?

Match #2: Mikey Whipwreck vs. JT Smith w/ Little Guido & Sal Bellomo
This sure happened. Mikey does his classic babyface offense of arm drags and dropkicks and shit, and the FBI interferes a lot. That's pretty much it. Devon Storm and Bad Crew came back out to also interfere against Mikey. Some explanation would be nice here. JT also broke out some cool offense. I liked this a lot more than Biggie did, I guess. Mikey disposes of everyone with dives, and hits a Frankenmikey for the win.
**

The Ultimate Jeopardy match is up next, but Raven has been replaced by Stevie Richards, who is defending Raven's title for him now. Biggie's review says Raven is in rehab by now. Sandman gives Tommy a beer, so he loans Beulah to him for the entrance. Sandman pours beer on her, and they double motorboat her. Fuck yeah.

Match #3: Stevie Richards [c]/Brian Lee vs. The Sandman/Tommy Dreamer [Ultimate Jeopardy Match]
Blue Meanie, Nova, and Beulah are all on the floor. This is a brawl everywhere, and it's solid. Tommy and Brian Lee have a fun arena brawl, and they continue to get better at that seemingly with every match, even if this feud going six months is totally insane. Stevie takes tons of big bumps but also kind of spams the Stevie Kick. I know it's not a big finisher since he's a comedy midcarder lackey, but still man, come on. BRIAN LEE HEADBUTTS BEULAH! Lori Fullington comes out to get involved, but she does it with Dreamer vs. Lee, which makes no sense. BRIAN LEE CHOKESLAMS TOMMY OFF THE EAGLE'S NEST THROUGH FOUR TABLES! HOLY SHIT YEAH! Lori helps Stevie in the ring, but he ducks a cane shot and hits a DDT, AND SANDMAN WINS THE TITLE BACK! YEAH!
**1/4

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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: The Sandman, Since 10/5/1996
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
October 15th, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


In the back, Joey Styles "interviews" Lori Fullington from her house and asks about her and Tyler being abandoned by Raven again. She does an awesome job of being a strung out junkie, looking gaunt and continually scratching her arm. She says the closer Sandman gets to true happiness, the more she can take away. Joey "asks" about Raven. She says Raven's quit, not ECW or wrestling, but Raven's quit his life. Joey is confused, and she says Raven left his life behind and he's gone away. He's gone overseas with Tyler. Oh. Well, that's a lot different.

There was supposed to be a press conference with The Sandman in "Boston" (which is a nice throwback of sorts to when Sandman won the title for the first time and threw a press conference in an all-time great ECW segment), but upon hearing that Raven is on vacation with his son, he got mad as fuck and left.

Clips air of Brian Lee's Chokeslam off the Eagle's Nest to Tommy Dreamer.

In the back, Joey Styles says these two will end the feud once and for all and it will be a HIGH INCIDENT SCAFFOLD MATCH~! He says the ring will be filled with stacks of tables for them to go through.

Match #1: Taz w/ Team Taz vs. Johnny Smith [Submission Match]
They had another nice match. Good matwork and throws. Smith's improved a lot in a few months, probably since he's started touring AJPW and actually working out. Taz finally catches Smith fucking up, and destroys him with some Suplexes, and he puts on the Tazmission to win.
**1/2

A video airs to hype up Eliminators/MVC set to "More Human Than Human".

Match #2: The Eliminators vs. The Samoan Gangsta Party
This sure happened. The Eliminators dominate to hype up the MVC match and they pull off the awesome feat of hitting them both with Total Elimination at the same time to win.
*1/2

ALSO ON 10/26:
-THE SANDMAN VS. 2 COLD SCORPIO FOR THE ECW TITLE!
-MIKEY WHIPWRECK VS. JOHNNY SMITH

Match #3: Shane Douglas [c] vs. Pitbull #2 [ECW Television Championship]
Francine and #1 are at ringside. This was MUCH better than their last match as it legitimately was Pitbull #2 beating the shit out of Shane, this time with some actual hate behind it. Douglas finally gets an opening and works the neck with some nice basic stuff. Pitbull #2 has a nice comeback of power stuff, but Francine gets in. He slams her, AND DOUGLAS BLINDS HIM WITH POWDER! HE HITS A BELLY TO BELLY ON THE REFEREE! Shane grabs the dog collar and chokes him with it, and hits two DDTs like how he broke #1's neck! He puts on a Full Nelson, AND PITBULL #1 GETS IN THE RING. This now stops being a match.
**3/4

SHANE SHAKES THE SHIT OUT OF PITBULL #1'S HALO JESUS CHRIST. He goes down hard and referees and people from the back and wrestlers come out as he leaves, and police have to hold backs fans and shit. I have no desire to see any more Shane/Pitbull matches, but the angle was pretty awesome. They have to usher Shane out of the building immediately. Joel Gertner announces Shane as still the champion, and Tod Gordon punches him out. Pitbull #1 is stretchered out and taken away in an ambulance.
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Some fancam stuff!

Shane Douglas [c] w/ Francine vs. Mikey Whipwreck [ECW Television Championship], Plymouth Meeting (October 18th)
FUCK YEAH A REMATCH FINALLY! It's unfortunately kind of disappointing. Mikey is once again the best babyface in the company and the perfect midcarder. Shane bumps around well and tries hard on offense. Mikey will totally die on transitions and big spots. Crowd was really hot too, which helped. Unfortunately, this is more of a Shane squash which, hey, what the fuck? USE MIKEY BETTER. Shane hurts his neck and hits the Side Belly to Belly to win. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
**3/4

The Eliminators vs. Bubba Ray Dudley/Spike Dudley, Plymouth Meeting (October 18th)

Fun showcase. Spike dies on lots of stuff and is a fun FIP, and Bubba's hot tag is full of cool fat man spots. Nice brief out of control brawl in the middle of this also. Spike gets back in, but he loses to the Total Elimination as expected.
**1/2

Sabu vs. 2 Cold Scorpio, Plymouth Meeting (October 18th)

This as these two for 15-20 minutes, so it was a great match. They change enough stuff up from their first two matches and have some new spots by now. It's still very much a Sabu Match, but that's such a fun match type, so you let it go generally. Scorp continued to have some amazing strikes, and Sabu did his stuff all 100% clean tonight. Big table bump, good chair spots, Scorp got to do lots of flips and whatever. Sabu wins with a Tornado DDT.
***

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The Master and Ruler Of The World

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: The Sandman, Since 10/5/1996
ECW Television Champion: Shane Douglas, Since 7/13/1996 - LONGEST REIGNING CHAMPION CURRENTLY
ECW Tag Team Champions: The Gangstas, Since 8/3/1996

ECW Hardcore TV
October 22nd, 1996
Philadelphia, PA


In the back, Joey Styles says he's supposed to interview Shane Douglas this week, and he's interviewed people who made fun of him, who tried to bully him, and who were unprofessional jerks and horrible people, but he did his job because that's what a man does, but he won't interview Shane Douglas after what he did last week.

To hype up Scorpio's return from Japan, they finally air Scorpio/Jericho from 8/3.

In front of a Philadelphia hospital, Joel Gertner is standing by and says he is more of a man than Joey Styles, and he introduces Shane Douglas and Francine. Shane is in a wheelchair and he says this isn't so bad, and wheels right and left. Francine asks what the hardest part of a vegetable to eat is, and she says the wheelchair. He challenges Pitbull #1 to a race and says he doesn't know why everybody's so upset. He says everyone said the Franchise isn't hardcore, but he flew like Mikey and swung chairs harder than Cactus, and he took it further to the extreme than anybody else. He says everyone likes to chant that someone's hardcore and they say they love hardcore, but he made them look right into the face of hardcore, and they turned away in disgust. He says he can do a lot in this chair, but there's one thing he can never do again, and that's Francine. He says he's going to be the bigger man now and WALK away, and he gets up and they leave.

Match #1: The Gangstas [c] vs. The Eliminators [ECW Tag Team Championship]
Only six minutes of this aired, but what did air was awesome. Probably would have been great if aired in full. NEW JACK DOES A BABYFACE FLYING FOREARM! FUCK YEAH! They bled and hit each other with weapons a lot, and it's the best possible Gangstas match up, since everyone's laying it in and it feels like a fight instead of a shitty PE tribute brawl. 187 on Kronus lets The Gangstas retain.
**1/2

The Eliminators attack post-match, and hit both men with Total Elimination. They make a ladder platform on the top rope, AND SET UP A FUCKING LADDER ON IT?! WHAT THE SHIT? It's a smaller ladder, but still, what the fuck is Saturn thinking climbing that? He hits them both with a Flying Elbow off the ladder. Consecutively. Like, he did that, and didn't consider how awful of an idea it was. Saturn is the best.

The MVC/Eliminators hype video airs again.

PULP FICTION:
-Tommy Dreamer is on the edge of a bridge. He says Brian Lee's life is destined to meet the same fate as his, and he decides when he's going to take it. What?
-Fonzie is in the middle of a hurricane and yells that Sabu fears Taz, and Team Taz doesn't fear a hurricane
-Shane Douglas points to the ECW logo on his belt, and says this is the house that the Franchise built, and then points to the hospital sign, and says this is the house built for Pitbull #1
-Tommy is back on the bridge and says he's afraid of heights, but it won't stop him, and his fear will be Brian Lee's pain. He then does a Raven pose. Why is Tommy trying to cut Raven promos now? It literally only works for Raven, and anyone else trying comes off as a lame knock off.
-Kroffat says they're going to give Sabu and RVD such an ass whooping that they'll have to stay partners just to help each other to the back
-Lori Fullington scratches her arm and says he's gone and she'll never see him again. Her baby's gone. She's gonna miss Raven. HA!
-RVD says it's time Sabu showed him some respect now and helped him beat some into Furnas and Kroffat
-New Jack says it ain't a black or white thing, it's an extreme thing, and they're comin.
-SHUT THE FUCK UP TOMMY DREAMER
-The Eliminators promo from a month or two ago where they scream "DOC AND GORDY!" airs again
-Gordy keeps pounding his fist into his hand, and Doc SLOWLY turns to glare at the camera, and says they'll do their talking in the ring
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