ECW on MTV #27
Wednesday, November 17th, 2001
Attendance: 1,261 – St. Michaels College Arena – Toronto, Ontario, CAN
TV Rating: 1.02 on MTV
CURRENT CHAMPIONS:ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Mike Awesome
ECW World Tag Team Champions: Chris Candido and Simon Diamond [Diamond Bodies]
ECW World Television Champion: Jerry Lynn
ECW World Junior Heavyweight Champion: Hayabusa
DARK MATCH:
BILLY KIDMAN DEF. CROWBAR – PIN – 6:39
RATING: 53
FULL-SHOW RECAP>> DIAMOND BODIES: AGAINST THE HOME GUY>> Once again, public enemies #1 and #2 kicked off the show. The Diamond Bodies spoiled the surprise to Toronto’s crowd, announcing that Lance Storm will face Kurt Angle in the main event. The fans were very happy, of course.
>> The Tag Team Champions showed their displeasure, as Storm and Justin Credible were responsible for a 4-on-2 attack against them last week. They also targeted the F.B.I., of course, before being interrupted… by Shane McMahon. ECW’s boss told them not to leave the ring, as they are opening the show “…that Lance Storm will, indeed, rightfully close!” The champs fumed.
MATCH #1
CHRIS CANDIDO & SIMON DIAMOND [DIAMOND BODIES] (w/DAWN MARIE & TAMMY LYNN SYTCH) vs. HAYABUSA & SUPER CRAZYWe witnessed a very interesting first match, as Hayabusa and Super Crazy teamed up once again, giving Candido and Diamond a lot of work. The bout was really good from a wrestling standpoint. Dawn and Tammy were ineffective when trying to distract their guys’ opponents.
Both teams were close to end the match, but the real ending was ruined… by Billy Kidman, of course! Kidman attacked both of his November to Remember opponents, first shoving Crazy off the corner and into ringside, then nailing Hayabusa with a chair. The referee didn’t like it, but he could only count the pin after the Bodies hit Hayabusa with a Body Play Powerbomb.
RESULT: CHRIS CANDIDO DEF. HAYABUSA – PIN – 7:42
RATING: 54>> 3-WAY TITLE MATCH GETS A TWIST>> After the bell rang, the Impact Players were led by Francine, mostly to chase Kidman away to help Hayabusa and Crazy, but they got physical with the Diamond Bodies too, of course, and both teams started a little brawl.
>> What about the F.B.I.? They entered the fray, but not alone… they carried a ladder to the ring and entered the squared circle in style, with Diving Dropkicks on Candido and Storm. Then, Mamaluke hyped Guido as he lift the ladder, placing his head in the middle of two rungs, and spun around hitting Diamond and Credible… and Diamond again… and Credible again… and Diamond again! An ECW special.
>> Shane McMahon got to the entrance way and stated the obvious: two weeks ago, the Bodies assaulted their rival teams with chairs; last week, the Players attacked with tables, and now, the F.B.I. brought ladders to the mix. Thinking quickly, he announced that the 3-Way Dance for the ECW World Tag Team Championship will now be… a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match!
MATCH #2 – ECW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERSHIP: 3-WAY DANCE SEMI-FINAL
C.W. ANDERSON (w/SEAN O’HAIRE) vs. KID KASH vs. RIC NOVA (w/DAN DORINSON & J.J KILLON)[/font]
The first semi-final in the TV Title contendership mini-tournament was contest by three ECW originals: Anderson, Kash and Nova (Ric Nova), who looked to add another belt to his waist that already carries the “big gold”.
After five minutes, we got to know that it wouldn’t happen, as Nova was the first eliminated wrestler. He hit a Slingshot Crossbody on O’Haire (who was causing trouble with Double D and J.J. at ringside), but in the ring, he strut too much and got caught by Anderson’s AA Spinebuster.
ELIMINATION: C.W. ANDERSON DEF. RIC NOVA – PIN – 5:13Kash and Anderson had the ring for themselves now and the crowd was heavily behind Kash and his risk-taking style. However, after he failed a Moonsault, it looked like the I.Q.’s enforcer could advance. He went for another AA Spinebuster, but Kash countered it into a DDT! Then, he hit the Money Maker Piledriver! 1…2…3! Kash advances!
FINISH: KID KASH DEF. C.W. ANDERSON – PIN – 8:11
RATING: 44>> TAZZ: DOMINANCE AND… APOLOGY?>> Anderson and O’Haire didn’t like the result, obviously, but before O’Haire could do a thing… Tazz showed up! And instantly threw O’Haire off his boots with a very impressive Exploder Suplex. Anderson then threw himself at him, but he was caught in the Tazzmission!
>> Then, he got a microphone and, pissed at the Insurance of Quality as a whole due to last week’s assault (by Anderson and O’Haire), he called their leader and his N2R opponent out. Surprisingly, Chris Kanyon was there; surprisingly, Chris Kanyon showed up in jeans and black tee… and surprisingly, Chris Kanyon got face-to-face with Tazz and tried to make O’Haire apologize (!) for his share last week’s attack (no point trying to make C.W. apologize as he was out cold). O’Haire felt offended by Kanyon and both men had an argument in front of Tazz.
>> Nothing came out of it, as another guy showed up: Jamie Gibson! Showing guts and will to prove himself, the redneck challenged Tazz for an immediate match, so he could knock his teeth out. Bold.
MATCH #3
JAMIE GIBSON vs. TAZZThe I.Q. left, not in the same page, and Tazz and Gibson had a short technical match. Gibson was able to hang for a while, got Tazz on the ground with a good Back Suplex and locked a submission, but in the end Tazz was too much for him to handle. After a powerful Overhead Belly-to-Back Suplex, Tazz locked in the Tazzmission! To Gibson’s credit… he didn’t tap. But the ref saw him out and had to call the match right there!
RESULT: TAZZ DEF. JAMIE GIBSON – TECHNICAL SUBMISSION – 5:08
RATING: 48>> ANGLE: HAPPY BUT WITH A(NOTHER) CLAUSE?>> Kurt Angle was seen knocking at a door and, of course, it was Paul Heyman’s. Angle was in a good mood and told ECW’s matchmaker that he was actually happy that he was able to find a proper wrestler in the ECW roster to face him in tonight’s main event, referring to Lance Storm... even if in a country that doesn’t really deserve Angle’s greatness.
>> However, Angle told Heyman that he understands that he’s trying to keep Mike Awesome as fresh as possible, as the champion is not booked tonight. Heyman denied that was the case, but the ‘Olympic Hero’ shut him up. Then, he handed him another document, telling Heyman that his strategy to favor Awesome won’t work. Is it another clause for the ECW World Title match?
>> FUNK: EXTREME MEASURES TO GET ANOTHER ANSWER
>> Back in the ring, the ‘Living Legend’, Terry Funk! Funk had the mic in hand to call Tommy Dreamer out after feeling insulted by having Dreamer calling his retirement plan a bluff strategy. So, he told Tommy to “get [his] ass in this ring right now!”
>> Face-to-face with Terry, Tommy tried to talk to his idol’s heart, reinforcing that even if ‘The Funker’ isn’t bluffing, he is not going to accept Funk’s challenge out of respect, and there is nothing Terry can do to convince him to fight him, as, once again he explained, he will not fight the person he so highly looks up to.
>> Terry ate his explanation, offered a handshake… and once Tommy accepted it, he cheap shot him with the microphone and then with some punches that bust Dreamer up the hard way. Not done, Funk grabbed a chair with which he hit Tommy before hitting a DDT. Dreamer was taking a beating… but there is more.
>> Dreamer was pretty banged up, so Funk left to the back. As it seemed over, Beulah got to ring to help Tommy… and then Funk came back, but not alone! He had a flaming branding iron with him and Joey Styles and Kevin Kelly were shocked! Funk entered the ring and Beulah retreated to a corner. Screaming with no mic, Funk asked: “Yes or no, Tommy?”, but he got no answer, so he touched him with a flame. Beulah screamed, he asked again: “No!” was the answer, so he did it again, this time getting the iron very close to Dreamer.
>> “Yes! Yes! Yes!”, said Beulah, terrified to see her man almost branded like cattle. Promptly, Terry asked her: “Yes? Beulah… are you accepting my challenge in behalf of your fiancée?”; “No”, whispered Tommy, but “Yes”, Beulah confirmed. Terry dropped the branding iron, happy with a confirmation, even if it took almost burning his former protégé. Terry left the ring with an arm up, as Beulah helped a bloody Tommy.
MATCH #4
BALLS MAHONEY vs. SHANE DOUGLASAfter a needed intermission, ‘The Franchise’ got to deal with Balls, somewhat of an ally of Steve Corino. Mahoney’s unpolished style caused Douglas some trouble at first, as he hit him with chairs and a stop sign before even getting a near-fall with a DDT. However, Douglas, more of a wrestler, managed to show up and get the match going his way, finally getting the pin after putting Mahoney through a leaned table with a Belly-to-Belly Suplex.
RESULT: SHANE DOUGLAS DEF. BALLS MAHONEY – PIN – 5:20
RATING: 37>> ‘THE FRANCHISE’ GETS MORE THAN WHAT HE ASKS FOR
>> After the match, Shane Douglas had a target: Steve Corino, of course. ‘The Franchise’ taunted Corino, even saying that he didn’t even bother appearing in an ECW show in Canada, his own country, for some reason. Douglas pointed that “that’s not the attitude of a main event player, and that’s exactly wha…”
>> Out of nowhere, Steve Corino appeared from the crowd and, from behind, hit Douglas with a stiff Superkick to the back of the head! The crowd erupted and they got further pumped up when ‘His (and their) Own Man’ took his somewhat signature bullrope from under the ring. But when he got to the ring, Douglas sneaked out, running away from the rope and the cowbell. Safe to say, Corino finally got one up on Douglas.
>> MINISTER MAKES A THING CLEAR AND LAYS OUT A CHALLENGE
>> Red room: Sinister Minister was there with Christopher Daniels and CM Punk. The clients stood silent, the leader talked directly to the camera, as if it was Yoshihiro Tajiri. Minister clarified that the Independent Church has no beef with the ‘Buzzsaw’ whatsoever, and even blamed Mikey Whipwreck to be the sole reason for Tajiri to be involved in the blood feud with the Church, as Mikey dragged him into it.
>> Plus, Minister wants to prove the veracity of that claim. So, he issued a challenged for November to Remember: Daniels and Punk vs. Mikey and Tajiri in the first ever Sacrifice Match. He then explain the simple rules: it’s basically an I Quit Match, but the tag partner of the “quitter” ends up getting spiked, can’t fight back and will, certainly, blame it on the “quitter”.
MATCH #5
KURT ANGLE vs. LANCE STORM (w/FRANCINE)On free television, in ECW’s first main event in Canada since the takeover, we got to witness one of the best pure wrestling matches (if not the best) in the history of the promotion. No weapons, no interference, just wrestling, almost fully between the ropes. Of course Angle and Francine mutually provoked each other, but that was the only “less-pure” thing of the match.
The two wrestled an almost amateur style at first, and Angle excelled at that, dominating Storm in the first moments of the bout, taking him down and getting cocky in the process. When the Canadian got Angle on the ground, though, the crowd erupted and the Olympic medalist realized that not everything is gold. Storm began punishing Angle’s legs and locking various holds, dreaming of a submission victory.
The match was very open and, while Storm indeed seemed close to get a submission win with the Maple Leaf, Angle recovered and got a near-fall following a Triple German Suplex. His legs were not at 100%, and that was clear when he attempted a Moonsault: he took too much time to climb the turnbuckle and hit the mat chest-first as the Impact Player had moved.
Storm got some momentum, but didn’t fully capitalize, as Angle caught his leg in a Superkick attempt and then tried to submit him with the Ankle Lock. Storm didn’t tap out and reached the rope, but in ECW that doesn’t get you a break. He got up still ankle-locked, hit Angle in the chest with the other foot, but Angle didn’t release it, so Storm tried climbing the corner on one foot.
Angle realized he had a different opportunity and began clubbing Storm’s back, then releasing the hold and climbing to the second rope, to hit a devastating Avalanche Olympic Slam! 1…2…3! Storm did his best and made Canada proud, but ultimately
Angle was in his best level and got the win!
RESULT: KURT ANGLE DEF. LANCE STORM – PIN – 16:13
RATING: 73>> DIAMOND BODIES TRIGGER CHAOS + ELLERING GETS SUPLEXED
>> After the match, Kurt Angle let Lance Storm get up, somewhat respecting his opponent. However, two guys stormed the scene: the Diamond Bodies [ugh…] ambushed Storm, stomping him to the mat until Justin Credible arrived to run them off! But, in the ring, someone else needed the spotlight: Kurt Angle surprised Credible with an Olympic Slam!
>> Immediately, Mike Awesome got to the ring too, followed by Paul Ellering some steps back. The story repeated itself: Angle dared the World Champion to hit him in order to be stripped of the title. But, calmer than ever, Awesome smiled at Angle’s face… so Angle slapped him three times, getting nothing in return but that same smile!
>> Ellering stepped between the two. Awesome’s manager warned Angle with a finger in the challenger’s chest: “Angle, listen to me: in three years of wrestling, you have never faced anyone quite like Mike Awesome! This is ECW and you’re being protected by playing by Vinny’s rules… but that won’t save you at November to Remember. Mike Awesome is going to des-troy… you!” Angle answered with a slap and an Olympic Slam to Ellering!
>> Coldly, Awesome gave a step further over his own fallen manager and, without touching Angle, lifted the belt on the challenger’s face. Angle smirked… but he didn’t tip Awesome over the edge. At least yet!
FINAL RATING: 67
BOOKER’S NOTES:>> The backstage of ECW is a convoluted one at this point. Before the show, Kid Kash and a fan got into an heated argument. I fined Kash, but I probably should’ve just warned him. In the locker room, Paul Ellering and Crowbar got physical, which is a way of saying the veteran manager beat Crowbar up. Ellering was also fined.
>> About the show: I must say I probably expected more from Tazz vs. Gibson and from some angles. For some reason, the rating for Funk and Dreamer's segment was abysmal (36), but eh, that's life.
AROUND THE WORLD:Spoiler contains punchline that may be offensive for some.
>> Chris Benoit turned heel on Eddie Guerrero in the WWF, which means he left the stable they were in, which, of course, was The Dudley Boyz. My thought about this? It’s hilarious to picture Benoit and Guerrero as Dudleys, and let’s just hope this is the only family Benoit tears apart in this game.
ECW November to Remember - Saturday, November 27th 2001
The card so farECW World Heavyweight Championship MatchMike Awesome (c) (w/Paul Ellering) vs. Kurt Angle
ECW World Tag Team Championship Match - 3-Way Tables, Ladders and ChairsChris Candido and Simon Diamond [Diamond Bodies] (c) (w/Dawn Marie and Tammy Lynn Sytch) vs. Justin Credible and Lance Storm [Impact Players] (w/Francine) vs. Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke [F.B.I.] (w/Big Vito)
ECW World Junior Heavyweight Championship - 3-Way DanceHayabusa (c) vs. Billy Kidman vs. Super Crazy
FTW Championship MatchTaz (c) vs. Chris Kanyon
Singles MatchShane Douglas vs. Steve Corino
Singles Match - Terry Funk's Retirement Match (?)
Terry Funk vs. Tommy Dreamer
