ECW x MTV Hard Hits Vol. 1: Television’s Fame
Saturday, June 20th, 2001
Attendance: 2,900 – Chicago Congress Theater – Chicago, Illinois, USA
TV Rating: 0.67 on MTV
LITTLE GUIDO & TONY MAMALUKE (w/BIG VITO) [F.B.I.] DEF. BOBBY FULTON & SHARK BOY [THE FIN-TASTICS] – GUIDO > SHARK – PIN – 6:12
RATING: 29
FULL-SHOW RECAP»» AWESOME: «GET YOUR CHANCE RIGHT NOW!»»» Mike Awesome opened the first ever ECW x MTV Hard Hits. In the ring, the World Heavyweight Champion called Steve Corino out. Awesome stated that yes, ECW is a dog-eat-dog world and every guy who stands up to defend the brand is also his own man, but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t unite to fight for ECW.
»» Corino interrupted him and pointed out how ironic is that coming from Awesome who just a year ago left ECW with the belt. Then he rhetorically asked why was Awesome even allowed in the World Title Tournament, why did Paul Heyman forgive him so easily and how much of a fighting champion he really is?
»» Awesome answered to the last question, offering Corino a chance for the belt: «his own man vs. his own man». Corino accepted… and in good old ECW fashion the match is… next!
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MATCH #1 – ECW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MIKE AWESOME © vs. STEVE CORINOThe match started and the Chicago crowd was electric. Specially because they were treated to an unannounced title match. Awesome, now fully-good guy, was the fan favorite against Corino who’s trying to leave his bad reputation behind in a questionable manner.
Awesome dominated Corino for the first few minutes, powerslamming the challenger to get a near-fall. Two chairs and a trashcan lid made their way to the ring as Corino regained a bit of momentum, first with an eye rake. The ‘King of Old School’ then got his own near-fall, following a Swinging Neckbreaker on a set-up chair, but couldn’t hit the Superkick or the Old School Expulsion.
Awesome regained control, but Corino was aware to avoid the Awesome Bomb every time. The time progressed and the champion hit a big Lariat and then a Big Boot… but time expired! Everyone had by then forgotten about the 10-minute time limit that will apply to every match but the main event… and Awesome retains.
RESULT: TIME LIMIT DRAW – STILL CHAMPION! – 10:00
RATING: 73»» AWESOME: MAN TO… WEASEL»» After the match was done, the crowd booed, but, hell, they changed his mind quickly, appreciating the great bout they were treated to. Mike Awesome then waited for Steve Corino to get up and tried to shake his hand, recognizing Corino’s effort. Would he shake it like he shook Funk’s some weeks ago? No. No he wouldn’t, instead showing the middle finger to the champion and leaving the ring.
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MATCH #2
C.W. ANDERSON (w/CHRIS KANYON) vs. SPIKE DUDLEYKanyon called Spike out before the match, saying Spike should finally stop opposing to the I.Q. and accept that their vision is the best for ECW and that starts with its cleansing of guys like him and Balls.
In the match, Spike and Anderson fought evenly until Kanyon himself got involved, leading L.S.D. to having to deal with the leader of the I.Q. by hitting a Dropkick that sent him from the apron onto the guardrail. Moments later, a stiff chair shot from Spike was followed by the Acid Drop, giving Spike yet another upset win in his ECW career.
RESULT: SPIKE DUDLEY DEF. C.W. ANDERSON – PIN – 5:18
RATING: 41»» I.Q.: OUTNUMBERING LEADS TO ANOTHER MATCH»» Post-match, Chris Kanyon jumped Spike Dudley before Sean O’Haire joined the beating. A banged up C.W. Anderson did the same and Spike was being massacred. Of course, Balls Mahoney came to his friend’s rescue with a chair. C.W. and Spike brawled to the back, as Sean and Balls were throwing fists at each other in the ring. Both told the referee to start a match.
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MATCH #3
BALLS MAHONEY vs. SEAN O’HAIRE (w/CHRIS KANYON)Not the best match ever, of course, but one that introduced O’Haire to singles matches in ECW. Balls tried to get his chair into play several times, but Kanyon pulled it out of the ring until finally Balls managed to grab a trashcan with which he beat Sean. Then Sean recovered and took over the whole thing. Spike escaped C.W. and tried to get to his buddy’s aid, but Kanyon stopped him and O’Haire pinned Balls after a Fireman’s Carry Facebuster onto the trashcan.
RESULT: SEAN O’HAIRE DEF. BALLS MAHONEY – PIN – 4:57
RATING: 27»» TV TITLE CHALLENGERS HANG OUT»» Backstage, we got to see Kid Kash, Rob Van Dam and Super Crazy talking to each other about the main event. In all fairness, RVD and a neck-braced KK did most of the talking, with RVD and the Mexican looking concerned about Kash’s health. Then, Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri walked in and they were a bit rougher than the other three, with Mikey threatening to take Rhyno out of ECW for good and to make them pay for last night’s actions. A sinister laugh from the Minister closed the segment.
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MATCH #4
AIR PARIS & AJ STYLES & BILLY KIDMAN & ELIX SKIPPER [TEAM NEWCOMERS] vs. CHRISTIAN YORK & JERRY LYNN & JOEY MATTHEWS & NOVA [TEAM ORIGINALS] (w/JOEL GERTNER)The 8-man tag team Cruiserweight showcase was a cool one. The newcomers were stronger in the air, but the originals’ technical ability was unmatched. The interactions between team leaders Kidman and Lynn were the best bits of the match, but all eight were given time to show themselves off.
Most fans cheered for the originals and, in the middle of a lot of counters and fast-paced action, the clock reached 10 minutes without a decision, meaning that neither team came out victorious.
RESULT: TIME LIMIT DRAW – 10:00
RATING: 49»» HEYMAN INTERRUPTS CRUISERWEIGHT CONFRONTATION»» Following the match, the leaders of the teams got involved in a little confrontation. No one got physical and all men were just trying to brag their rights. Joel Gertner also played his part in the segment.
»» They were all interrupted by… Paul Heyman, of course, who stood between both teams in the middle of the ring and stated that very soon, all the men in the ring and more will have something to fight about, as the crowd will get to know who the very best “cruiserweight” in ECW really is. Will there be a tournament? A title?
»» DIAMOND BODIES: DESPERATE MEASURES + HEYMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT»» And as the cruiserweights left, the Diamond Bodies came to the ring, essentially confronting Paul Heyman face to face before their match. Once again, the duo, along with their valets, told Heyman that his decision to ban Dawn Marie and Tammy Lynn Sytch from the ring isn’t a legitimate one. To call the stipulation off, Diamond went as far as to call Shane McMahon in the ring.
»» After some waiting, Candido and Diamond’s faces were looking more and more desperate. The call went to voicemail and Heyman laughed at the idiots. Then, he announced that, formally, McMahon is on hiatus from ECW. The crowd cheered and Sunny Dawn were escorted out by the security team as The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer began fighting their rivals.
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MATCH #5 – SUNNY DAWN BANNED FROM RINGSIDE
CHRIS CANDIDO & SIMON DIAMOND [DIAMOND BODIES] vs. THE SANDMAN & TOMMY DREAMERThe crowd was heated and definitely wanted to see Candido and Diamond get beaten up badly by Sandman and Dreamer who busted both bad guys up before three minutes had passed, using canes, trashcan lids and cookie sheets to do so. It seemed like the Diamond Bodies would have to fight to stay alive until a time limit draw or something. Credit to where its due, both survived DDTs and did their best to stay in the match.
After seven minutes, the two were already using weapons like they were ECW icons themselves but some occasional finger flips to the crowd made everyone sure they are nothing but jerks. In a proper hardcore move, Diamond also smeared Sandman’s blood in his own chest. However, they were never able to hit their Body Play Powerbomb.
The good guys fought back and the crowd started to predict another time limit draw… unless any swerve could happen. 30 seconds were left and… Francine (?) showed up to ringside. She did nothing else, but her mere presence was enough to distract one of the two teams. Sandman caned Diamond to the floor and Dreamer picked Candido up for a Spicolli Driver through a table! 1…2…3!!! The Diamond Bodies taste their own medicine!
RESULT: TOMMY DREAMER DEF. CHRIS CANDIDO – PIN – 9:53
RATING: 50»» IMPACT PLAYERS: ONE OF THE TWO»» We needed an explanation. Why did Francine get to ringside? Is she aligned with Sandman and Dreamer? Of course not. Justin Credible and Lance Storm, the Impact Players, got to ringside to explain the whole situation. Since they’re the ECW World Tag Team Champions, there’s one thing they want now and that’s to make an impact, like they always have. Except Credible and Storm now aren’t going to be “the guys you love to hate”. Instead, they want to be «(…) the guys everyone loves to see making impact so much that you’ll only remember you hate us when WE remind you!»
»» And how is that related to the previous match? Credible explained that the champions are not really happy about seeing two other tag teams taking the spotlight, so they came to steal it and to call any of the two teams out into challenging them for the gold soon. Credible concluded with the line: «You four: enjoy your spotlight, because we’ll screw you out of it, mother****ers!»
»» RHYNO: A PROMISE TO FULFILL IN MOMENTS»» Before the main event, a video aired starring Rhyno. The ECW World Television Champion had some threatening words for all of his five challengers, saying he’ll finish what he started last night, destroy them all and get out of Chicago with the title still in his possession and «(…) back… to… the WWF!» The ‘Man Beast’ isn’t here to play!
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MATCH #6 – ECW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – 6-WAY DANCE
RHYNO © vs. KID KASH vs. MIKEY WHIPWRECK (w/SINISTER MINISTER) vs. ROB VAN DAM vs. SUPER CRAZY vs. YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI (w/SINISTER MINISTER)The 6-way dance started with a bang, as all five challengers tried to tear Rhyno apart. It wouldn’t be easy, though, and Rhyno used the ECW World Television Championship to hit everyone. Then, he focused on Kash, setting up a table at ringside. He went for another Rhyno Driver, but… RVD came to rescue, dropkicking Rhyno who fell through the table.
RVD cared for KK, but KK tried to surprise him a roll-up, but RVD reversed back! 1…2…3!
ROB VAN DAM ELIMINATES KID KASH – PIN – 3:39Kid Kash shook RVD’s hand as his neck was too hurt to even bother with his elimination. Then the match seemed like a tag one between The Unholy Alliance and RVD & Super Crazy until Rhyno interrupted it, whacking everyone with a chair. Everyone but one person: Mikey Whipwreck, who used Sinister Minister’s scepter to hit Rhyno, who took a while to get rid of Mikey. Super Crazy stepped up and hit some flying lucha moves before getting hit with a Gore mid-air! 1…2…3!
RHYNO ELIMINATES SUPER CRAZY – PIN – 7:08The Unholy Alliance had a number’s advantage, but they were in the ring with two major stars of ECW’s history. They worked together with RVD to take Rhyno out momentarily after not being able to pin him. Another table came into the equation, but ended up getting leaned in the corner. Mikey, Tajiri and RVD had a cool little sequence, with Mikey and Tajiri even agreeing to fight each other as Minister cheered for both. Enter Rhyno again! And enter the scepter! RVD hit a Van Daminator with a chair and the UA hit a double Dropkick on the champion. RVD got to the top! Five! Star! Frog! Splash! With a chair on Rhyno’s chest! But before RVD could pin him, Tajiri hit RVD with a Buzzsaw Kick! 1…2…3! It’s every man for himself, but even Mikey was surprised!
YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI ELIMINATES ROB VAN DAM – PIN – 10:07The “handicap match” continued, but the pool was closing in and Rhyno was still there! They had trouble neutralizing the champion, but when Tajiri has that type of issue… the mist is his friend! And Rhyno got blinded by the mist, the Unholy Alliance had their chance! Both used objects and tried to pin him, but he kicked out. The confused champion fought back and countered the Whipper Snapper! He threw Mikey against Tajiri and the table was behind them… GORE!!! Rhyno pinned Tajiri: 1…2…3!
RHYNO ELIMINATES TAJIRI – PIN – 12:27Everyone’s favorite underdog had to do it again! Against a different beast this time. Rhyno had him on the ground but Mikey kicked out. But he was Rhyno’s ragdoll to handle, and Rhyno was making sure Minister witnessed his client’s suffering. After some pacing, he signaled for a finish, lifting Mikey for a Death Valley Driver against the remaining of the table. He hit it, then taunted, and then…
…the lights were off! And after some fifteen seconds: «Caw! Caw-Ca Caw!» It was RAVEN! Raven stood behind Rhyno, arms wide open with a chair on the right! The crowd was on fire, creating the pop of the night! Rhyno turned and ate a stiff chair shot! Even Flow DDT! And then… Raven pinned Rhyno! 1…2…3! What the hell?
RAVEN DEF. RHYNO – PIN – NEW WWF HARDCORE CHAMPION! – 15:17Raven grabbed the WWF Hardcore Championship belt and left with it! Rhyno got up and he was vivid! But Mikey got up too and took advantage: another chair shot! Whipper Snapper! Mikey fell on top of Rhyno: 1…2…3!!! The underdog did it again! Mikey slays the beast and wins the TV title back to ECW!
RESULT: MIKEY WHIPWRECK DEF. RHYNO – PIN – NEW CHAMPION! – 15:46
RATING: 61FINAL RATING: 62
THE BOOKER'S TAKEAWAYSLike I predicted, the opener would be the best match. And also like I predicted, the TV rating fell down from a regular TV show. Means the next Hard Hits won't be set up as "Lesser" shows in TEW. I'm happy with the show rating, tbh, and idk, the feel of the main matches seem a lot like the ECW I love. We're five weeks from Heat Wave now. Will Corino challenge Awesome for a definitive result? Which team will challenge the Impact Players? Will we see more of Rhyno?
Spoiler: yes, McMahon is really on a hiatus and won't appear anytime soon.
PREDICTION CONTEST - RESULTS:Asaemon - 1/4
Beejus - 1/4
henriquesser - 2/4
johnnyboombatz - 2/4
marc91 - 2/4
Purotastic - 2/4
The winner is:
No one! I admit it, this one was really unpredictable, from the unannounced matches to the ones that were announced too. That and the 10-minute limit was forgotten by everyone... yeah, I love time limit draws...
