ECW on MTV #17
Friday, September 5th, 2001
Attendance: 1,091 – Peter Stott Center – Portland, Oregon, USA
TV Rating: 0.85 on MTV
DARK MATCH:
CM PUNK (w/SINISTER MINISTER) DEF. JOHN RAMBO – PIN – 5:10
RATING: 25
FULL-SHOW RECAP>> ANOTHER MAN IN THE TITLE PICTURE?>> This week’s episode started out in regular fashion: with the Insurance of Quality in the ring. Chris Kanyon had the microphone and, this time, he gave his own opinion about the ECW World Title picture. Knowing that he can’t have a title shot, he suggested that his own ally, Sean O’Haire, should get one, as he’s “the hottest prospect in the ECW roster… by far!”
>> Shane McMahon contested Kanyon’s proposal, as it takes more than a claim for one to be inserted in the title picture. Yet, the boss asked for Paul Heyman’s opinion. Heyman joined everyone in the ring and offered Kanyon a deal: “tonight, the #1 Contendership becomes a one-fall 3-Way Match. If O’Haire wins, he’s the new contender; if he’s the one taking the loss, he will never have a shot at the ECW World Title… or any other title in ECW!”
>> Kanyon laughed at the way Heyman could be “putting ECW’s future on the line”, but accepted the proposition. O’Haire is in the main event!
MATCH #1 – ECW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – 10 MIN. TIME LIMIT
CHRISTOPHER DANIELS © (w/CM PUNK & SINISTER MINISTER) vs. CHAD AUSTINIn a short match, Daniels beat another ECW alumni. The bout wasn’t amazing and Daniels dominated it as Sinister Minister laughed at ringside. The Angel’s Wings, once again, sealed the match.
RESULT: CHRISTOPHER DANIELS DEF. CHAD AUSTIN – PIN – STILL CHAMPION! – 4:48
RATING: 23>> RETURN OF THE BUZZSAW!>> After the match, CM Punk looked at Sinister Minister, who this time nodded positively, taking the spike of his pocket. Chad Austin would be spiked… if it wasn’t for Mikey Whipwreck! ECW’s longtime underdog came to rescue, but in a matter of moments got beat up by The Independent Church.
>> Then, a familiar music hit: Yoshihiro Tajiri is back from Japan! The ‘Buzzsaw’ rushed to the ring and was tempted by Minister to join the Church. However, Tajiri answered his own way: misting Punk and attacking Daniels. The two traded some blows before Minister ordered his guys to retreat. We’re now sure: Tajiri is with Mikey! Or so it seems.
>> IMPACT PLAYERS: LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK>> In a room, we got to look at Francine! And the World Tag Team Champions, The Impact Players, were also there. Once again, the trio talked about The Diamond Bodies and their valets, complimenting Shane McMahon’s decision to ban them from tonight’s episode, meaning that “we’d get an idiot-free ECW on MTV if it wasn’t for the I.Q. being here”.
>> The promo ended with Credible and Storm claiming to be looking forward to next week, when they’ll finally beat Candido and Diamond and shut their mouths.
MATCH #2
ELIX SKIPPER & AIR PARIS & AJ STYLES [AERIAL ASSAULT] vs. SUPER CRAZY & LITTLE GUIDO & TONY MAMALUKE [F.B.I.] (w/BIG VITO)A cool little Junior Heavyweight 6-man tag team action. Being the division’s champion, Super Crazy had a target on his back as the three former WCW Cruiserweights actively tried to pin the Mexican to get a future shot at gold. However, his team with the F.B.I. was really synched and Mamaluke pinned Paris after a Bridging ‘Italian’ Suplex
RESULT: TONY MAMALUKE DEF. AIR PARIS – PIN – 7:05
RATING: 48>> GIBSON: THE ONE CHALLENGING?>> Again from his trailer, Jamie Gibson looked pissed this time. He commented on last week’s segment where Paul Heyman told he was almost closing the deal with Super Crazy’s next challenger. Gibson called Heyman out, stating there’s no other Jr. Heavyweight as deserving as himself and he questioned the bosses if they remember him being taken out of the Title Tournament. Gibson “rightfully insisted” for Heyman to brighten his head and sign Crazy vs. Gibson for Anarchy Rulz.
MATCH #3
BILLY KIDMAN & KID KASH vs. DANNY DORING & ROADKILLThe former World Tag Team Champions seem to be really on the low. Kidman and Kash were far from the best teammates: Kash, cocky by nature, had to deal with the growing arrogance of Kidman as they both competed to see who performed better. Kash would probably win following a Dead Level Brainbuster on Doring, but Kidman hit a Shooting Star Press on Roadkill right after that only to steal the pin, getting the W himself.
RESULT: BILLY KIDMAN DEF. ROADKILL – PIN – 5:24
RATING: 34>> DORING & ROADKILL: WHAT’S NEXT FOR THEM?>> After the match, Danny Doring and Roadkill recomposed. The two then stared at each other looking sad, breaking the hearts of several ECW fans. The words “What’s next for us, Danny?” could be heard from Roadkill. Danny patted his shoulder and the two left the ring.
>> LYNN: PREPARING BEFORE CONTENDERSHIP MATCH>> We got a look from the locker room. There, Jerry Lynn was seen preparing for the main event #1 Contendership Match as Joey Styles and Kevin Kelly hyped it up.
MATCH #4
JOHNNY SWINGER vs. TOMMY DREAMERDreamer had his first match since Hard Hits. In a slightly one-sided one, he beat Johnny Swinger after being triggered by Swinger flirting with Beulah, who obviously didn’t even like it, slapping him to show it. Dreamer then got him in the ring, DDTing on a trashcan for the 1-2-3.
RESULT: TOMMY DREAMER DEF. JOHNNY SWINGER – PIN – 5:52
RATING: 45>> DREAMER’S SUGGESTION ENDS IN ANOTHER BEATDOWN>> The match was only the entrée for Tommy Dreamer tonight. He asked for a microphone to deliver a heartfelt promo. He talked about his friendship with The Sandman, apologizing for the third time and got extra personal, stating that he knows everything Sandman said last week is true: “ECW is a very important part of my life, but it’s not my only thing. I know it is for you, Jim…” Then, Dreamer dropped the bomb, volunteering to… hand Sandman the win at Anarchy Rulz, so that his friend could keep his job in ECW, meaning the fans would never see Tommy in an ECW ring again.
>> Enter Sandman! Not through the crowd, though. Sandman got to the ring, cane in hand. He then stole Dreamer’s mic and asked his… former-friend… if he really knows him all that well, and if he does, why would Tommy think he’d accept his forfeit in such a high-stakes match. Tommy asked for the mic so he could answer and after a pause, Sandman threw the mic at Tommy’s chest. He then hit him with a cane next as a hopeless Beulah watched hell go down on her husband for the third straight week. Dreamer got busted open by Sandman’s shots, unable to fight back, and Beulah got shoved to the ground. She resisted and ended up getting a cane shot too!
>> Paul Heyman interfered, coming to the entrance way and calling for security. No less than six guards came to the ring to escort Sandman out of the arena, as he shouted “I don’t any any favors, Tommy! I’ll put you through hell until you are as miserable as me! You and your wife, Tommy!”
>> CORINO: CONFIDENT ABOUT CONTENDERSHIP>> Backstage, Steve Corino didn’t waste his chance to throw Paul Heyman (and Shane McMahon) under the bus for allowing Sean O’Haire in the Contendership Match. Still, Corino said he’s feeling confident about the upcoming match that will finally see him becoming the one to get another shot at Mike Awesome. He then added that pinning O’Haire to do so and “throwing his bright future against the wall” is going to be a good spicing to his fortunes.
MATCH #5 - #1 CONTENDERSHIP PARTIAL JEOPARDY – ONE FALL 3-WAY
JERRY LYNN vs. SEAN O’HAIRE (w/C.W. ANDERSON) vs. STEVE CORINOThere’s absolutely no doubt that Lynn vs. Corino would’ve been enough. The two shared the best bits of the match. Both formed an alliance early on to take O’Haire out of the action as soon as he vetoed the use of the first chair. But the I.Q. prospect was able to introduce himself to the match, specially as Lynn and Corino were wearing each other off and using chairs, canes and good old fashioned technical wrestling to do so.
In the beginning of the final third of the match, O’Haire was able to take a page from Anderson’s playbook, countering Corino’s run with an AA Spinebuster through a table at ringside. C.W. loved it, Lynn didn’t, and in the ring, ‘The Dynamic One’ was close to end O’Haire’s golden ECW future on two occasions.
Lynn and O’Haire kept sharing receipts with each other until O’Haire managed to slow Lynn down with a powerful chair shot, embracing the ECW ways. He then had Lynn in an Inverted Fireman’s Carry Position to hit his Widow Maker. Showing a lot of awareness, Jerry was able to hold the top rope. O’Haire had to pull him and the referee’s head was hit by Lynn’s feet. O’Haire did hit the Widow Maker, but the ref couldn’t count!
Enter Corino, who hit him with a huge Superkick that stunned him. O’Haire and Corino battled back and forth for about a minute – Corino legitimately hurt his ankle following a stiff Knee Stomp by O’Haire there – until Corino was able to hit his Old School Expulsion out of nowhere! There was still no referee, though! Corino tried to revive him, but when he turned back to O’Haire, C.W. Anderson was pulling him out of the ring.
Corino chased Anderson around ringside for a bit. Lynn got back up and called Corino to the ring. He went and both had a great sequence, until Lynn countered Corino’s pin attempt with his own, Backsliding him! 1…2…3! Lynn is challenging Awesome!
RESULT: JERRY LYNN DEF. STEVE CORINO – PIN – 13:41
RATING: 48>> HEATED POST-MATCH + CHAMPION’S APPROVAL>> Steve Corino was pissed after the match. He got up right after the three count and he thought about attacking Jerry Lynn. He didn’t, though, holding back his fists as the winner was ready to defend himself. The two then had an heated confrontation and both shoved each other before Lynn extended his hand, saying “Winning or losing, it’s all wrestling”. The sentence didn’t help and Corino showed him his middle finger instead, then exiting the ring.
>> When Corino passed through the curtain, Mike Awesome did the opposite walk. He joined Lynn in the ring, offering his new challenger his own hand. The two shook hands and it seems we’re in for another respectful title match build-up!
FINAL RATING: 52
BOOKER’S NOTES:>> The ratings were terrible and I know the overall rating of the show was hurt by Sean O’Haire’s inclusion in the main event, but I needed to protect Corino, didn’t I? I also expected the 2vs2 to get a way better rating, but I can’t seem to make any Doring/Roadkill match work… which pisses me off, because Doring was quite decent.
>> Moving on to a better note: I shouldn’t say it, but I like what I’m doing with Sandman vs. Dreamer…
ECW Anarchy Rulz - Saturday, September 28th 2001 - Baltimore, Maryland, USA
The card so farECW World Heavyweight ChampionshipMike Awesome (c) vs. Jerry Lynn
Loser Leaves ECW MatchThe Sandman vs. Tommy Dreamer (w/Beulah McGillicutty)
Seriously, I love that idea and it would fit ECW very well.
