Introduction:
Welcome back everyone to CrazyMax’s very own Hardcore History. Last week we saw a tag team title match between the Super Destroyers vs. Larry Winters/Tony Stetson. We also saw The Sandman defend his ECW Heavyweight Title vs. the Rockin Rebel. We seen the debut of the Magnificent Muraco, who joined Jimmy Snuka in Hotstuff International. This week we have a rematch of the Tag Team Title match from last weeks show. We also get another title defense from the Sandman as he squares off against Salvatore Bellomo. I’m ready to get this show started so lets get to it.
Show Opening:
The show opens with Jay Sulli and Stevie Wonderful ringside. Sulli runs through the card and announces that we have two big title matches tonight. Wonderful takes over and says we have the Super Destroyers vs. Stetson/Winters. Sulli says we also have the Sandman in action and he will be defending his Heavyweight Title belt against Salvatore Bellemo.
Tod Gordon comes out of no where and interrupts Jay Sulli. Gordon says he and Gilbert go way back as kids and he has been his nemesis ever since. Gordon asked Sulli if we got a chance to see the look on Gilberts face from last week where he looked scared. They show footage of what happened last week when Gilbert was trying to show footage of running Terry Funk out of the ECW. Gordon comes down and says that we will never show that tape and that Funk is still a part of ECW. Gordon says that he has something to say directly to Eddie Gilbert. Gilbert then walks off as we cut to a promo of Terry Funk at the Double Cross Ranch.
Promo by Terry Funk
Funk says that he has rode his horse 10 miles both ways looking for Eddie Gilbert. He is looking for him to tell him the rules of a Texas Chain Match Massacre. Funk then goes to the ass end of a horse and says that it is Eddie Gilbert. Funk tells us that their is no stoppage for blood, no count outs, no nothing. The only way to win the match is to drag your opponent around the ring and you have to touch all four corners.
Funk then lifts up the tale of the horse and it makes a farting noise. Funk then with the classic line “your voice has changed your breath still smells the same.” He finishes up the promo by sayin “phew hot stuff.” What a promo this was. Funk talking to a horse as if it is Eddie Gilbert. Classic.
Match 1: Eddie Gilbert/Don Muraco vs. JT Smith/Glen Osbourne
The match starts off with JT Smith vs. Eddie Gilbert. Smith hits Eddie with a quick arm drag to start the match. They get in a collar and elbow tie up and Gilbert gets him in reverse arm bar. JT reverses it as Eddie gets into the ropes to break the hold. They get in another tie up and Gilbert decks JT with some right hands. He then drives the head of JT into the top turnbuckle. Eddie then whips JT into the ropes and charges at him and nails him with a sit down clothesline. Muraco gets the tag and he comes in and gets JT in a twisting neck breaker.
Muraco picks up JT by the legs and he does a sling shot move into the bottom rope and drives the throat of JT Smith. Gilbert gets the tag and he throws JT over the top rope as Glen comes in and distracts the ref. Muraco drops to the outside and picks up JT Smith and drops him over the guard rail. Muraco throws JT back into the ring where Eddie Gilbert is waiting for him. Gilbert kicks JT in the chest then tags back in Muraco. Muraco takes his taped thumb and drives it into the throat of JT Smith. Muraco picks up JT and body slams him and then he goes for a couple of elbow drops but JT moves out of the way.
JT gets the tag to Osbourne and he comes in as Muraco quickly makes the tag to Eddie Gilbert. Osbourne grabs Gilbert on the apron and throws him over the top rope to get him in the ring. All four men are now in the ring and they are going at it. Osbourne has Gilbert in the corner while Muraco bodyslams JT Smith over the top rope and both men go flying over the top rope. Osbourne whips Gilbert into the ropes and hits Gilbert with a nice back body drop.
Osbourne picks up Eddie and gets him in a tombstone pile driver. PAUL E. DANGEROUSLY COMES OUT OF NO WHERE AND CRACKS THE PHONE OVER THE BACK OF THE HEAD OF GLEN OSBOURNE. Gilbert then rolls him up and gets the 3 count. The winner of the match is Eddie Gilbert and Don Muraco!
After the match, Paul E. Dangerously gets in the ring and cuts a promo. Paul E. Dangerously says there are a lot of people who are probably wondering what the hell is going on around here. Dangerously also says there are a lot of people who are wondering if it is true that the money from the Dangerous Alliance has merged with the pure wrestling genius of Eddie Gilbert and Hotstuff International. Dangerously says it is true that there has been a merger between the two most powerful wrestling organizations in wrestling. Dangerously says people want to know why this happened here in the ECW and not in New York or Atlanta or Dallas or anywhere else.
Dangerously says that we are doing this to make Tod Gordon a broke man. Dangerously says theres no one in Pennsylvania who are smart enough to realize what we have in Snuka, Muraco, and Gilbert. Dangerously says that Gordon is going out of business and that there is no one in Pennsylvania with enough guts to come and see what we have to offer in Snuka, Muraco, and Gilbert.
Recap:
Well there it is, the debut of the one and only Paul E. Dangerously. This was a pretty decent match and then it just got put over the top by the debut and merger of the Dangerous Alliance and Hotstuff International. Obviously we know how this turns out for Heyman and ECW but it is still pretty damn awesome to see his actual debut here. You immediately care more about the guys involved with Hotstuff International because of the presence of Dangerously here. I am excited to see how this goes going forward.
Backstage Promo: Hunter Q. Robbins and The Super Destroyers
Robbins starts the promo by saying where he comes from people know when its over. He says that Winters and Stetson are cry babies and every time they lose they go crying to Tod Gordon to get another title show. Robbins says that this is it for Winters and Stetson. He says do it tonight or forget it because we have better things to do. He says they have places to go and people to see so Stetson and Winters better make it count.
Match 2: ECW Tag Team Title Match: Super Destroyers (C) vs. Larry Winters/Tony Stetson
The match starts off with Tony Stetson and Super D #1. They get in a collar and elbow tie up and Stetson drives him into the turnbuckle. They roll around the rope before separating. Super D hits Stetson with a knee to the midsection and then he dumps Stetson with a pump handle slam. Destroyer goes for an elbow but Stetson gets out of the way. Stetson then arm drags Destroyer #1 to the ground then drops the knee on the arm a few times before making the tag.
Winters comes into the match and goes off the top and works over the arm. Winter gets him in an arm bar and slams him over then works on the arm some more. Winters gets the tag to Stetson and he comes in and head butts the arm of the Super Destroyer #1. Stetson gets him in an arm bar again and nails him with a sabot kick. Winters gets the tag in again and he starts working the arm again of Super Destroyer #1. Destroyer #1 makes the tag and Destroyer #2 comes in and lays in some right hands then drives the head of Larry Winters into the top turnbuckle.
The Super Destroyer then nails Winters with a standing drop kick. Destroyer #1 comes into the ring without making a tag as he comes in and chokes Winters across the throat with is boot. Stetson tries to get in the ring but this just distracts the ref as both Super Destroyers attack Winters in their corner. The Destroyer taunts Stetson again and the ref stops him from coming in. Meanwhile Super Destroyer #1 takes the arm of Winters and wraps it across the post. Super Destroyer #2 gets Winters in a side slam and gets a 2 count. Super D #2 gets the tag and they get the Demolition clubs to the back. Super D #2 then drops a head butt to the groin area for the low blow. Super D #1 tags back in and he gets Winters in a reverse chin lock on Winters.
Super D #2 gets the tag and he comes in and chokes Winters as he is draped over the bottom rope. Super D #2 puts the boots to Winters and drives him to the outside of the ring. Stetson goes over to Winters to get him back up to his feet but Super D #1 grabs them both and he rams their heads together. Winters gets back in the ring and Super D #2 throws Winters into the ropers. Winters kicks Super D #2 with a kick then nails him with a knee to the neck area. Winters quickly makes the tag to Stetson and he comes in guns blazing.
Stetson hits a couple right hands then he nails Super D #2 with a nice flying forearm. He then throws Super D #2 into his own corner and allows him to make the tag. Both Destroyers are standing on the apron and Hunter hands something to the Super Destroyer. Stetson tries to suplex the Super Destroyer into the ring but the Destroyer nails him with a foreign object and gets the 1-2-3. Your winners and still ECW Tag Team Champions….the Super Destroyers!
Recap:
This was a pretty good match from start to finish. The arm holds didn’t last very long so there wasn’t a lot of rest holds during the match. Stetson had some pretty good offense, which you don’t think would be the case when you look at him. The Destroyers were able to carry their weight this time around and made this match fun to watch.
Backstage Promo: Salvatore Bellomo
Bellomo says he is coming to ECW for one thing and thats for the gold belt. He says everyone comes here for the same thing and thats the ECW Title. Bellomo says the fans are asking what is it all about and Bellomo it says about having fun and doing something different each night. Bellomo says tonight he will get that belt.
Match 3: ECW Heavyweight Title Match: The Sandman (C) vs. Salvatore Bellomo
After a lot of stalling we finally get the match going. Sandman goes for a quick roll up on Bellomo but he was in the ropes so there was no count. The Sandman appears to having a good time here tonight. They get in a collar and elbow tie up and the Sandman gets Bellomo in an arm bar. However, Bellomo rakes the eyes and gains control of the match. Bellomo snap mares the Sandman over and the drops a boot to the Sandman. Bellomo drives the Sandman into the corner and starts biting him.
Bellomo goes for an irish whip into the corner but the Sandman reverses it and comes charging in but Bellomo blocks it with a boot to the face. Bellomo hits the double ax handle to the back and drives the Sandman to the mat. Bellomo gets on the back of the Sandman and rubs his face right into the mat. Bellomo stomps on the Sandman and then picks him up and head butts him. Bellomo goes for the pin and gets a 2 count. Sandman hits a couple bunches to the midsection but Bellomo snap mares him over and gets him in a reverse chin lock.
Bellomo gets distracted by fans outside and the Sandman gets him in another roll up for a 2 count. Bellomo grabs the leg of Sandman and gets him down to the mat and he goes for the cover but only gets a 1 count. Bellomo continues to lay on the Sandman and trying to get a pin fall. Bellomo finally gets up and kicks the Sandman in the back and then hits him with a head butt. Sandman gets up to his feet but Bellomo hits him with another head butt. Sandman hits Sal in the gut with some elbows and he gets up and throws him into the ropes. Sandman decks Bellomo with a drop kick. Sandman then follows that up with a big time clothesline that sends Sal flying over the top rope. Bellomo gets distracted by some fans ringside as the ref counts to 10. Your winner via count out and still ECW Heavyweight Champion….The Sandman!
Recap:
This match is just eh if you ask me. Nothing terrible but nothing good to watch either. Bellomo got his typical garbage offense in and the Sandman made the hot come back. The drop kick that the Sandman did was incredibly sloppy and shouldn’t be a part of his repertoire at all. The clothesline was pretty nasty looking when Bellomo went flying over the top rope. The finish made sense only because of Bellomo’s character so you can’t be to mad about that. All in all nothing special here and not worth the time.
Backstage Promo: The Rockin’ Rebel and Tigra
The Rebel says he is the best thing to happen to ECW and the Sandman knows that very well after their few encounters. The Rebel says he went surfin’ on the Sandman’s head the last time they met. Rebel says that the Sandman and Peaches know all about it. Rebel then says Tigra is the best looking woman in the ECW. Rebel says that Sandman wanted her but couldn’t have her and now he has her.
Match 4: The Rockin’ Rebel vs. Ernesto Benefico
Rebel grabs the leg of Ernesto and trips him up and drops him to the mat. Rebel then slaps the taste right out of Ernesto’s mouth. They get in another collar and elbow tie up and the Rebel tags the back of Ernesto. Rebel then body slams Ernesto and then drops a boot to him. Rebel then suplexes Ernesto and he follows that up with a nice looking elbow drop. The Rebel is just toying with Ernesto. Ernesto rolls out of a suplex and then nails the Rebel with a drop kick. Ernesto goes for a second one but the Rebel moves out of the way. Rebel picks up Ernesto and hits him with a nice looking power slam. He goes for the cover but gets up at 2 as a way to punish Ernesto.
Rebel picks up Ernesto and throws him into the ropes and he hits him with a spine buster. Rebel then puts his boot on the chest of Ernesto and gets the pin with the cocky pin. Your winner by pinfall…..the Rockin’ Rebel!
Recap:
This was your typical squash match. They are trying to make the Rebel look good so he and Tigra can continue their feud with the Sandman and Peaches. Rebel had some decent offense in this match but you could tell Ernesto was completely over matched and really had on business in the ring. There are jobbers then there is this guy. I would recommend just skipping this one on your way through this show.
Ringside Interview: Tod Gordon and Hunter Q. Robbins the Third
Tod Gordon starts off by saying that Hunter has said that Stetson and Winters will no longer get a title shot against the Super Destroyers. Robbins tells Gordon that is correct. Gordon then states that he has a contract from Stetson and Winters and they are willing to put their hair on the line against the belts of the Super Destroyers if they get one more title shot. Gordon also says it will be no disqualification and no time limit. Robbins signs the contract without actually reading it. It states in the contract that Robbins will be handcuffed to Tommy Cairo on the outside. Hunter snaps and says that there is no way he will be handcuffed to Cairo and that Gordon will hear from his lawyers after this.
Backstage Promo: The Suicide Blondes
Candido starts off the promo by saying that he knows what everyone is looking at and its him Chris Candido. Hotbody says that he knows what everyone is thinking and that he is no longer Johnny Hotbody. They said that since they are at the top of the ECW they are going by their proper names and that is Christopher Candido and Jonathan Hotbody. Candido says they are ready to take on anyone whether it be the Super Destroyers or Stetson/Winters. Hotbody cuts Candido off and he says he doesn’t care if it is bag ladies from Philadelphia or street people from New York, it makes no difference to them. All they have to do is put their name on the dotted line and they will find out why they are the Suicide Blondes.
Match 5: Grudge Match: Tommy Cairo vs. Johnny Hotbody
It’s so great when Hotbody gets introduced because the ring announcer bills him at 300 pounds including his ego. Little things like that are awesome and always a joy to hear. Those are also things people can over look if you aren’t paying attention so I figured I’d point that one out to you. The match starts with Cairo getting Hotbody with an arm drag. He then hits him with more quickly and Hotbody rolls out to the outside to regroup. Candido massages the lower back of Hotbody before he gets back in the ring.
Cairo and Hotbody get each other in a knuckle lock that Cairo quickly takes advantage of by kicking Hotbody in the stomach 2-3 times then suplexing him over. Cairo goes for the cover and gets a 2 count. Both men get up and Cairo whips Hotbody into the turnbuckle and he follows that in with a spinning wheel kick. Candido distracts Cairo as Hotbody charges and hits Cairo with a knee to the back. On the outside Candido levels Cairo with a clothesline as Hotbody continues to distract the ref. Hotbody goes out to the apron and runs and hits Cairo with an elbow drop as he laid on the floor.
Hotbody gets Cairo back in the ring and he puts him in the corner. He puts Cairo on the top rope and Hotbody tries to do a superplex but theres no way he could get it set up properly so he just tosses him off the top. Hotbody gets a 2 count after the move. Hotbody goes up to the top rope and is going for a move but Cairo reverses it and meets Hotbody with a right hand as he comes off the top rope. Cairo then gets Hotbody in a reverse neck breaker and he goes for the pin but Candido distracts the ref. Hotbody goes for a body slam but Cairo floats over and drives Hotbody into the ropes. Candido is standing on the apron and when Cairo pushes Hotbody into the ropes Candido falls off the apron. Cairo then rolls up Hotbody and gets the 1-2-3. Your winner of the grudge match….Tommy Cairo!
After the match Candido gets leveled again by Cairo but Hotbody is able to attack Cairo from behind. Hotbody hits Cairo in the midsection with a knee then he throws Cairo outside to the floor. Hotbody hits another elbow drop on Cairo on the outside. Cairo and Hotbody brawl on the outside as the show goes to the credits.
Recap:
This match was nothing special. Cairo and Hotbody were real sloppy and were just a tad off it seemed. The offense was good but the match itself didn’t flow which is unfortunate because Cairo isn’t bad and can be fun to watch. Hotbody just isn’t believable because he is way to short and the moves he was trying to do just didn’t work. Such as doing a superplex when you know his ass can’t pick up anyone to do that move. Just a badly booked match that really didn’t do anything to help either guy.
Show Recap:
Match wise this was the best show we have seen so far. The opening match between Hot Stuff International was pretty good and we got the debut of Paul E. Dangerously. We also heard that they have merged the Dangerous Alliance and Hot Stuff International to make Tod Gordon become a broke man. This was all great stuff. We saw a pretty good tag team title match between The Super Destroyers vs. Larry Winters/Tony Stetson. We got another cheap finish during the match but we heard from Tod Gordon later on in the show and it appears we are finally going to get the pay off on next weeks show. The Sandman had an eh match and the Rebel was in a squash match. The last match was pretty trash because both guys seemed off and the offense in the match made no sense.
So, we started off pretty good but finished with a whimper. Thats the way it goes on these early episodes of ECW but we it finally feels like we are reaching a turning point where they are about to start booking towards their big show, Super Summer Sizzler 93, as well as developing more characters that we actually give a shit about seeing. Things can only go one way from here and thats up and I look forward to bringing you all of that and then some.
I hope you enjoyed this episode of a Hardcore History. We are slowly creeping along to where we are getting to the good stuff where these reviews get a little easier to do. Right now its a drag but the payoff and reward at the end is going to be well worth it. I hope you continue to stick with me on this journey through the history of ECW one episode at a time. Come back next time, right here at CrazyMax, to enjoy more ECW action.
