Post by Moore on Jul 24, 2024 16:05:08 GMT 1
ECW x MTV Hard Hits Vol. 2: Ultimate Jeopardy
Saturday, August 20th, 2001
Attendance: 4,535 – Matthews Arena – Boston, Massachussets, USA
TV Rating: 0.93 on MTV
DARK MATCH:
KID KASH DEF. CHRIS HAMRICK – PIN – 5:47
RATING: 45
FULL-SHOW RECAP
>> MINISTER IN A HURRY + MIKEY’S PARTNER DEBUTS
>> To start the show, Sinister Minister got to the ring with his client, the World Television Champion, Christopher Daniels. In no ring gear, the manager was in a bit of a rush to have his match, so he called out the one he turned his back on: Mikey Whipwreck, telling him to reveal his mysterious teammate.
>> Mikey came to the ring alongside his mate, who showed up in a grey hoodie, black shorts and boots, then revealing his meshed blonde hair. When asked by Minister about his name and his motivations to be Mikey’s mystery partner, the young man convincedly answer: “My name is CM Punk… and I’m here to be the best version of myself!” He was then jumped by Daniels.
X 
MATCH #1
CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & SINISTER MINISTER vs. CM PUNK & MIKEY WHIPWRECK
Daniels worked pretty much the whole match, as the evil preacher avoided to tag in and even ran away from Mikey whenever possible. Daniels took on both Punk and Whipwreck, excelling in the technical department with two good dance partners. Mikey brought weapons into play too, using a chair to beat the champion, then tagging in Punk, who showed some more fast-paced skill, before being taken out by Minister, who hit Punk’s back with the scepter.
Mikey then tried to chase Minister, at ringside but was lured off when Minister held his spike towards him. Daniels took advantage, hitting a nice Slingshot Crossbody, dominating and opening Mikey up back in the ring, finally hitting an Angel’s Wings before… tagging Minister in! Once again, Minister took the spike and when a bloody Mikey was on his knees, expecting to be hit with a spike… CM Punk was back on his feet with the scepter. But he used it to strike Mikey in the back of the head! Minister then pinned Mikey as Punk and Daniels watched.
RESULT: SINISTER MINISTER DEF. MIKEY WHIPWRECK – PIN – 7:22
RATING: 52
>> “YOU’VE WITNESSED THE BIRTH OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH!”
>> After the match, we got to understand that CM Punk was set-up with Sinister Minister and Christopher Daniels from the beginning. The two wrestlers stood behind Minister as he laughed with the microphone in hand before telling everyone in the arena they were lucky to have witnessed the birth of something greater: The Independent Church!
>> DIAMOND BODIES: MAKING MCMAHON REGRET HIS DECISION?
>> Backstage, The Diamond Bodies and their valets, Dawn Marie and Tammy Lynn Sytch, were hanging out. Their main talking point was the disappointment they felt about Shane McMahon after the boss’ decision to put Dawn and Tammy’s ECW career in jeopardy in the main event. Diamond and Candido both agreed they would make Shane regret his choice and to do so, they must stick together.
>> MONEY & ELEKTRA: STEPPING UP TO LYNN
>> Elektra brought one of her clients to the ring: EZ Money. The junior heavyweight wasn’t booked, but fitting in the “young wrestler” mold, he felt like stepping up to Jerry Lynn, challenging the talented veteran for a match next to prove his own worth.
X 
MATCH #2
EZ MONEY (w/ELEKTRA) vs. JERRY LYNN
It ended up being a pretty good match. Fast-paced as expected, we got to see Money’s display of high-flying and high-impact moves. He even set a table in the ring in a moment where he had the upper-hand (thanks to a distraction by Elektra), trying to hit a Superplex. It didn’t work and Lynn countered with a Sunset Flip Powebomb that crushed the table.
The ‘Dynamic One’ seized it with a Cradle Piledriver to get the win.
RESULT: JERRY LYNN vs. EZ MONEY – PIN – 6:38
RATING: 59
>> CORINO: PROVING WORTHY OF ANOTHER TITLE SHOT?
>> Backstage, Steve Corino had some words to the camera, stating that he is 100% sure that he believes that no one is as worthy of an ECW World Title shot as the unaffiliated man that he is. He reminded Mike Awesome that he didn’t defeat him two months ago and that he won’t defeat him in his next shot. Next, he would become the #1 contender.
X 
X 
MATCH #3 – #1 CONTENDERSHIP: ULTIMATE JEOPARDY ONE-FALL 3-WAY DANCE
CHRIS KANYON (w/C.W. ANDERSON & SEAN O’HAIRE) vs. SPIKE DUDLEY vs. STEVE CORINO
High stakes for the return of the Ultimate Jeopardy in a stapled 3-way dance. Kanyon and Corino were the two main contenders, with Spike being added to the match later, and they treated the bout in that way, shoving Spike out of the ring several times before the smaller competitor could get some offence, thanks to the usage of a steel chair.
Out of nowhere, Spike was in control, but not for long, as Kanyon booted the chair against his face and got the control, using that same chair. Smartly, as both of his opponent’s jeopardies benefitted him, Kanyon tried pinning both at the same time, but Corino and Spike kicked out.
The later stages of the match saw Kanyon and Corino back in the spotlight, as Spike was thrown over the ropes through a table at ringside. Corino looked really close to fulfill his claim after a Northern Lights Bomb on a set-up chair. Kanyon kicked out and after some moments, with Spike still out, the I.Q. leader used a low blow on Corino and followed it with a Flatliner! But before he could pin him, Corino rolled to the outside. Anderson and O’Haire couldn’t touch him!
Enter Spike, armed with another chair. Little Spike hit a big chair shot to Kanyon’s head, stunning him for a big pop, then capitalized with the Acid Drop. 1…2… no one believed it until the referee’s hand hit the mat for… a third time! Spike pinned Kanyon and is the new #1 contender! Kanyon will NEVER be a World Champion!
RESULT: SPIKE DUDLEY DEF. CHRIS KANYON – PIN – 10:16
RATING: 61
>> SPIKE: HELPED TO ENDURE THE WRATH OF THE I.Q. + TITLE CHALLENGE IS NEXT!
>> Spike Dudley stomped Chris Kanyon, making him leave the ring. There, as Spike celebrated, Kanyon regained his composure and, along with the rest of the Insurance of Quality, attacked the one who pinned him moments before. Not for long, because Steve Corino reached for a chair and entered the ring. Simultaneously, Mike Awesome also got to the ring and both made the I.Q. leave the new contender alone.
>> Corino didn’t like it that the ECW World Champion stole his own good-guy moment. So, once again, Awesome became the victim of a big Superkick to the side of the head. Corino then left.
>> As for Spike, he looked to the crowd, realizing his moment to shine could be closer than he thought! He then shouted to the referee that he wants to challenge Awesome next! Mike accepted it and the bell rang!
X MATCH #4 – ECW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MIKE AWESOME © vs. SPIKE DUDLEY
Unfortunately for Spike, though, the World Champion was not that battered. But he was… and even though Spike had a strong start, he was quickly overpowered by Awesome. In less than three minutes, Awesome pinned Spike after an Awesome Bomb. Credit to Spike for kicking out of a first one, but it’s only fair to say he blew his chance.
RESULT: MIKE AWESOME DEF. SPIKE DUDLEY – PIN – STILL CHAMPION! – 2:44
RATING: 50
>> SPIKE ACCEPTS AWESOME’S RESPECT
>> After the match, Mike Awesome stood tall above Spike Dudley, looking below and waiting for his fallen but mighty challenger to get up. When he did, Spike pushed Awesome, failing to accept that he wasted his shot and his long due revenge against Awesome. But Awesome’s a good guy now. So, once again, the World Champion offered his hand for Spike to shake. Spike slapped his face this time. But Awesome maintained his composure and, after some thought, Spike accepted the handshake!
>> SANDMAN & DREAMER: MORE TROUBLE BEFORE CRUCIAL MATCH?
>> We got a glimpse of The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer and beautiful Beulah McGillicutty backstage. The three were hanging out, but Sandman seemed a bit distant, as he has been lately. Dreamer brought up the subject of their union, stating that they must both stick together in the main event. Sandman, who was chugging some beer, spat it to the floor, blew his cigarette and told Dreamer: “Tommy… I don’t need you telling me anything. I know how to do my job. Ok?” He then put the cigarette out and left with his cane.
X 
MATCH #5 – DOG COLLAR MATCH
CROWBAR vs. JAMIE GIBSON
Before the entrances, Joey Styles and Kevin Kelly clarified the rules: to win this match, one must drag his opponent by the chain attached to the dog collar, touching all four corners. As Crowbar was entering, Gibson attacked him from the back, shoving him to the ring after beating him at ringside.
The match then started with both men attached by their necks with a chain and Gibson made Crowbar bleed with some punches. Whenever he got his opponent on the ground, the redneck would smartly use some submission holds, most of them chokes, to try to incapacitate Crowbar and drag him across the corners.
Crowbar finally had his comeback and he made Gibson pay, beating him with the chain until he bled too, but also with his crowbar. He took a table from under the ring, put it over and Gibson, smartly and quickly exited to the apron before passing through the second and third ropes. In the ring, he choked and even hanged Crowbar (who was at ringside) for a bit. Back in the ring, Gibson set a table and got Crowbar on top of a corner. He then tried to go for a Superplex, but Crowbar fought him off. Gibson fell off the corner, but short of the table, and he managed to pull the chain, leading Crowbar to fall through the table instead!
Gibson got back up earlier and hit a Gibson Driver on the remains of the table, then managed to drag Crowbar around the four corners of the ring to get the win.
RESULT: JAMIE GIBSON DEF. CROWBAR – DRAGGING – 8:09
RATING: 45
>> GIBSON CALLS OUT CHAMPION AND CHALLENGER
>> After the match, a bloody and broken Crowbar was helped to the back, while Jamie Gibson, also bloody, grabbed a microphone. Still in a very aggressive mood, Gibson turned his attention to Super Crazy and Taka Michinoku, saying that both can’t even lace his boots right now and had he not been taken out the tournament, he would be the World Junior Heavyweight Championship now.
>> He talked too much and got hit for that. Champion and challenger got the ring, double teaming Gibson with some kicks and even a Double Standing Moonsault before Gibson was dragged out and the title match could begin.
X 
MATCH #6 – ECW WORLD JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
SUPER CRAZY © vs. TAKA MICHINOKU
If the previous match was the proof that ECW’s Junior Heavyweights can show a big level of brutality, this one was the showcase of some technical and flying prowess between two of the best in the world in their weight class.
The match was heavily technical in its beginning stages, with a lot of ground countering and grappling. As the match progressed, it became a fast-paced lucha affair, with the ropes being as used as the mat. After nearly ten minutes, Taka caught the champion off guard with a Springboard Corkscrew Moonsault and capitalized with his Michinoku Driver. 1…2…. but it was not meant to be! The Mexican kicked out and in a matter of seconds was surprising the challenger with his own pin attempt.
When both got back to their feet, the dance became rougher, with both hitting harder, embracing a style closer to the Japanese strong style. Crazy got the better of a kick battle and got the challenger to leave the ring, hitting a Tope Senton to the ringside, before sending him back to the ring. There, another sequence followed, with Super Crazy hitting a Tornado DDT before retaining with his Trifecta in what ended a great match!
The two shook hands after the match.
RESULT: SUPER CRAZY DEF. TAKA MICHINOKU – PIN – STILL CHAMPION! – 14:42
RATING: 63
>> KANYON: “ECW DOESN’T DESERVE THE I.Q.!”
>> In the I.Q.’s locker room, Chris Kanyon was livid. The main reason: Spike Dudley. Spike pinned him in the Ultimate Jeopardy 3-Way Match, meaning that Kanyon won’t challenge for the ECW World Title… ever. But what pissed Kanyon off the most is the fact that Spike simply wasted his chance in less than five minutes. Kanyon and the rest of the I.Q. questioned the Dudley boy’s intelligence before the leader lashed out on how stupid the rules of a concept such as Ultimate Jeopardy are, since they put the participants of the match in unneeded pressure – he didn’t think that before losing, did he?...
>> Kanyon concluded the promo with the words: “I’ll make it very clear: ECW doesn’t deserve the I.Q… or anyone with a decent I.Q.”
>> DIAMOND BODIES: CALLING OUT THEIR RIVALS + IMPACT PLAYERS SHOW THEIR PREFERENCE
>> The Diamond Bodies, Dawn Marie and Tammy Lynn Sytch came out early for their match and the fans were quick to shout “Hey hey goodbye” at the valets, predicting one would be out of ECW by the end of the night. The quartet then called out their opponents, saying that tonight they’ll make sure one of them will be out of ECW by the end of September. Sunny Dawn aimed at Beulah, who made her return.
>> They were interrupted… but by the Impact Players again. The Tag Team Champions and Francine confronted the Bodies with Francine telling them that she would love to personally throw all the things from one of the valets out of the arena after the show ends. Credible and Storm agreed about wanting Sandman and Dreamer’s win, stating: “We had about a million fights and we want to have a million more.”
>> Things got heated, but finally Beulah and Dreamer came out through the entrance way, with Sandman entering through the crowd. The Impact Players left the scene.
X 
MATCH #7 – #1 CONTENDERSHIP: ULTIMATE JEOPARDY MATCH
CHRIS CANDIDO & SIMON DIAMOND [DIAMOND BODIES] (w/DAWN MARIE & TAMMY LYNN SYTCH) vs. THE SANDMAN & TOMMY DREAMER (w/BEULAH MCGILLICUTTY)
The match started with a bang, with Sandman caning both of the Bodies for a major pop and to give his team the control of the bout, that transformed into a brawl around the ring, with Dawn and Tammy having to step out of the way multiple times as they could only watch their boys get hit with canes, cookie sheets, chairs and stop signs for Beulah’s delight.
Back in the ring, the Diamond Bodies could finally get some offence, specially during the times that the main event looked more like a wrestling match, as Candido and Diamond were able to wear the opponents off on the ground. They weren’t shy to use chairs too. During that time, both Bodies and Sunny Dawn provoked Beulah heavily.
Things evolved more to become a brawl again and even though Sandman seemed distant and not that interesting in working along with Dreamer, they regained the control of the action. Dreamer was close to get the win following a DDT to Diamond onto a chair; Sandman was close following a Rolling Rock to Candido. Both attempts were broken by the respective partner.
Near the end, the Diamond Bodies were still in trouble. What could Dawn and Tammy do? Well, they hazed Beulah at ringside and things got physical, with the numbers’ advantage being a problem for Dreamer’s girl. Tommy noticed it and put his efforts into rescuing her, pulling Sunny Dawn by their hair. Sandman didn’t like it and got distracted by his partner’s focus shift. Candido hit a Diving Crossbody towards Dreamer to save his team’s valets, while in the ring, Diamond hit a big chair shot to Sandman before Candido could aid him with the Body Play Powerbomb! 1…2…3! The Diamond Bodies are again next in line for a World Tag Team Title challenge… Sandman or Dreamer… one of them will leave ECW next month!
RESULT: SIMON DIAMOND DEF. THE SANDMAN – PIN – 13:38
RATING: 59
>> THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF A CAREER-CHANGING MATCH
>> After the match, the winners left the ring and went to the back before The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer could put their hands on them. Dreamer got to his feet and entered the ring, feeling the need to justify his match-costing distraction to his partner before he even got up. Sandman looked angry but, after some input by Dreamer and Beulah, he seemed a bit calmer. Both shook hands, with an emotional Dreamer apologizing. All would leave the ring, when Sandman stopped, as he had forgotten his cane. He grabbed it… and he stopped.
>> Dreamer turned to Sandman… AND SANDMAN SWUNG THE CANE! “OH MY GOD!” (in Joey’s words)… Dreamer was violently hit and knocked down by the shot. Beulah got her hands on her face is shock. With Dreamer down, Sandman hit him twice more, before Beulah tried to stop him. Sandman shoved Tommy’s girlfriend away, hitting Dreamer once more.
>> Paul Heyman made his only appearance in the show, begging Sandman to stop his outburst from the stage. Sandman threw the cane on top of Dreamer, who was then checked on by a sobbing Beulah, and left the ring, showing little emotion when he crossed paths with Heyman. That’s how Hard Hits Vol. 2 ended.
FINAL RATING: 61
BOOKER’S NOTES:
>> Mixed feelings: all the matches were decent and I knew the Jr. Heavyweight title match would be the best one in the ring, but I was hoping that Sandman and Dreamer’s popularity could give the main event a better rating (around 65, maybe). It was the Ultimate Jeopardy with the higher stakes, IMO, so it had to be the main event. Yes… we’re losing The Sandman or Tommy Dreamer at Anarchy Rulz, aren’t we? At least that’s what the jeopardy rules… stay tuned and trust the process.
>> About the other Ultimate Jeopardy match: I feel like getting Kanyon off the World Title picture forever is my boldest move yet, considering he is one of my top stars, but I could picture him revolting against Spike’s dumb move to challenge Awesome right after earning the right to do so. It wasn’t a decision created for the moment, rather for character build-up.
AROUND THE WORLD:
>> In this save, WWF is just a sandbox. They had SummerSlam the night after my Hard Hits and the three last matches were: Sting def. Kurt Angle; Undertaker def. Scott Steiner and… Steve Austin def. Bill Goldberg to retain the WWF World Title. All were rated 99. Also in the show: Triple H def. Kane, Booker T def. Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho def. Kevin Nash. But that doesn’t matter at all, because Eddie Guerrero joined the Dudley Boyz and that’s hilarious to imagine.
PREDICTION CONTEST - RESULTS:
armandopayne94 - 4/8
Asaemon - 1/8
dgenerationmc - 4/8
Frank Reed - 1/8
johnnyboombatz - 4/8
marc91 - 5/8
The winner is: marc91! I'm actually shocked, but seemingly having an ECW diary is the key to getting ECW predictions right! Btw, big shoutout to Armando who got the mystery partner question right!
