ECW on MTV #1
Friday, May 5th, 2001
Attendance: 928 – Philadelphia, PA
TV Rating: 0.62 on MTV
DARK MATCH:
BIG VITO DEF. AMAZING RED – PIN – 4:46
RATING: 20
FULL-SHOW RECAP»» HEYMAN’S WELCOME: «ANYONE WHO THOUGHT WE WERE DEAD CAN STICK IT!»»» The crowd was crazy for ECW’s return! Paul Heyman got to the ring and was received with a hero’s welcome, having to assure the Philly fans that they were not dreaming. Then, Paul announced that while tonight is going to be an ECW feel-good show, the fans will witness a debut. And starting next week, there will be a 16-man tournament to crown an ECW World Heavyweight Champion, with the decisive matches taking place in May 27th’s Hardcore Heaven 2001!
»» After that… came the “money”. Shane McMahon came to the ring to a mixed reaction as some of the fans were aware that ECW was alive thanks to him. He was quick to turn all the fans against him, announcing that «something needs to change… but ECW needs a recognizable champion.» Rhyno is the current ECW World Champion and he will enter the tournament backed by Shane… even though he is a WWF wrestler.
»» Finally, the prince of the whole business left a rumor on the air regarding… the name of the title, going as far as to say that ECW was, by some means, part of the WWF and, so, it would make sense to name the ECW World Title as the… WWF Extreme Championship. The boo was loud and even Heyman got to Shane’s face. The confrontation was heated until Shane turned his back and left.
MATCH #1:
SUPER CRAZY vs. YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI (w/SINISTER MINISTER)A classic match-up of the later original ECW days: Super Crazy and Tajiri brought the lucha and puroresu flavor in the opener, using their agility, speed and unorthodox offense to make the crowd forget about Shane for some minutes.
The match got to ringside and Tajiri used a chair to aid on a Shining Wizard, while Crazy hit a solid Hurricanrana against the guardrail. Back in the ring, the match ended when Crazy dodged a Trifecta Moonsault and hit a Brainbuster for the win.
RESULT: YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI DEF. SUPER CRAZY – PIN – 8:16
RATING: 52MATCH #2:
CHRIS HAMRICK & EZ MONEY & JULIO DINERO [HOT COMMODITY] (w/ELEKTRA) vs. DANNY DORING & MIKEY WHIPWRECK & ROADKILL (w/SINISTER MINISTER)Minister stayed at ringside for this 6-man tag match where Mikey joined forces with the ECW World Tag Team Champions, who came with the belts, so they’ll stay with the belts! In a quicker bout, Hamrick was hit with a chair after talking trash and ate a Lancaster Lariat of Lust (Roadkill’s Bearhug + Doring’s Lariat) for the finish.
RESULT: DANNY DORING DEF. CHRIS HAMRICK – PIN – 6:10
RATING: 43»» SYTCH AND BYTCH SQUASH THE BEEF»» Backstage, we saw a quartet: Chris Candido, Tammy Lynn Sytch, Simon Diamond and Dawn Marie. They were chatting about the revival of ECW, but there was some animosity between Tammy and Dawn regarding the latter’s former Tammy Lynn Bytch persona. Diamond and Dawn apologized and both valets eventually squashed the beef, shaking hands while their clients looked happy.
MATCH #3
CHRIS KANYON vs. NOVAWho betta’ for an ECW debut? Kanyon faced Nova who’s far from the cult stardom level of his bWo times. They had a good short match until the former WCW star managed to tame Nova… with a Low Blow, then defeating him with a Flatliner.
RESULT: CHRIS KANYON DEF. NOVA – PIN – 5:24
RATING: 28»» KANYON, THE ‘INSURANCE OF QUALITY’»» If the fans were wondering, Chris Kanyon made them sure he’s one of the assholes. He claimed Nova’s former ‘Hollywood’ moniker would suit him better and that he doesn’t want to be in ECW, but a paycheck’s a paycheck. However, he said he’ll need some time to adapt to the lawless world of ECW, but promised to keep the company with some level and class. He told the faithful they can call him ECW’s ‘Insurance of Quality’.
»» FUNK: THE LEGEND WON’T CALL THE BELT ANYTHING ELSE»» Terry Funk was on video. The legend was pissed about Shane McMahon’s words in the start of the show and claimed that him, as a former ECW World Heavyweight Champion and as someone who carries the company in his heart, will not refer the belt by any other name, no matter what happens. Finally, he said ECW isn’t Shane’s, it’s the people’s, and announced himself for the tournament!
MATCH #4
LITTLE GUIDO & TONY MAMALUKE [FULL BLOODIED ITALIANS] (w/BIG VITO) vs. ROB VAN DAM & SPIKE DUDLEYHeyman’s feel-good intention was clear in another very good match putting two of the fans’ favorites against one of the best teams in ECW’s history. Vito was at ringside and tried to intervene in the match, even setting up a table for a double team on Spike that didn’t happen.
In the end, F.B.I.’s great teamwork was not enough. RVD dove towards Vito to make sure he wouldn’t be a factor and Spike hit an Acid Drop on Guido through the table, distracting Mamaluke, who was then hit with a Van Daminator and a Five Star Frog Splash!
RESULT: ROB VAN DAM DEF. TONY MAMALUKE – PIN – 8:17
RATING: 50»» ORIGINALS: IT’S ECW OR NOTHING ELSE»» After the match, Rob Van Dam and Spike Dudley were still agitated. RVD grabbed a microphone and also took offense to Shane McMahon’s words. They announced themselves for the tournament and claimed that the ECW World Heavyweight Championship is the real prize in the company and will still be that way.
»» ‘Enter Sandman’ hit and the crowd erupted! The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer made their entrance through the crowd while Joey Styles called the moment. In the ring, Dreamer was about to speak, but Sandman, already bleeding from the beer can shots, got the mic himself, openly swearing and calling Shane O’Mac a dipshit asshole (his words), calling him out to the ring. He didn’t come and the main event is next!
MATCH #5
MIKE AWESOME & STEVE CORINO vs. THE SANDMAN & TOMMY DREAMERA logical main event with four former ECW Champions: two of the most beloved against two of the most hated wrestlers of the company’s later days squared off in the most violent match of the night, with both teams doing their best to inflict punishment a week before the tournament.
It started with Sandman hitting Corino with a kendo stick in the apron for a pop. The match evolved into chaos and the tags were simply ignored, with the referee’s consent. The ringside was as much a battleground as the ring, with varied objects being used by all four men.
Sandman and Dreamer had a little edge and Corino was down following a DDT. They had to deal with Awesome now but in came… Shane McMahon. Not alone, though, the boss came accompanied by… Rhyno! The ECW World Champion ravaged, hitting Dreamer with a Gore! And Sandman with another, through a table in the corner, before leaving the ring. Awesome looked confused, but a win is a win and he was already hated anyway, so he hit a definitive Awesome Bomb before pinning Sandman.
RESULT: MIKE AWESOME DEF. THE SANDMAN – PIN – 11:45
RATING: 54»» AWESOME: TWICE A SELL OUT?»» After the bell, Shane McMahon and Rhyno get back to the ring, with the latter acting as Shane’s bodyguard, more or less. The new boss of ECW clapped his hands for Mike Awesome’s win. Awesome still looks confused and McMahon extended his hand for him to shake. The crowd booed the moment and, probably, that weighed on Awesome’s shoulders who was still hated for leaving to WCW while champion the previous year. Mike refused the handshake and left the ring, staring towards Shane and Rhyno. On stage, Paul Heyman looked and seemed at least relieved about Awesome’s decision.
»» Does Shane McMahon also want to back Mike Awesome in the tournament?
FINAL RATING: 56
PERSONAL TAKEAWAYS:»» I probably shouldn’t put Paul Heyman as a road agent.
»» The attendance is too low and, honestly, ECW’s reboot under WWF would always get more fans in the crowd. I’m using the in-game editor to raise our popularity by 4 or 5 points in every US area.
ECW Hardcore Heaven - Saturday, May 27th 2001 - Philadelphia, PA
The card so farECW World Heavyweight Championship - Tournament FinalWinner of Semi-Final #1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final #2
ECW World Title Tournament Semi-FinalWinner of 2nd Round #1 vs. Winner of 2nd Round #2
ECW World Title Tournament Semi-FinalWinner of 2nd Round #3 vs. Winner of 2nd Round #4