Map of the territorys

I found this really interesting

Best record cover ever?

For obvious reasons I'm inclined to think so!

Clash of the Champions 10

Clash of the Champions 10 - Texas Shootout.
February 16th, 1990 from The Coliseum, Corpus Christi. TX

Where were we? It's been too long...

So it's Clash of the Champions 10 time and we are in Texas. Now call me easily entertained but I really rather dug the opening titles to this event, a kinda video game / fair ground game style western shoot out were wrestlers would pop up and be shot by a POV gun...nice....and a nice little  bit of finesse from WCW who are getting better at that stuff with every passing Clash.

In the opening few moments of the PPV we have introductions from JR with Jim Cornette. Terry Funk (sporting a bizarre and garish earring) at ringside and Gordon Solie backstage. Kinda beats Tenay and Taz right?

Doctor Death Steve Williams vs Samoan Savage
Samoan Savage was one half of the SST last time we saw him right? Why is he now on his own, anyone know?
This is a fairly decent opening exchange. The Doc takes it to the Savage like a house on fire and the pace never really let's up from that moment on. A back and forth encounter that is ultimately won by Doctor Death with that most devastating of finishers the dreaded backslide (haha). It should also be mentioned that Women took a seat at ringside during this match.

Terry funk interviews The Four Horsemen in the ring. They tell Sting he's no longer a Horseman and boot Sting out of the stable.

Brian Pillman and Tom Zenk vs The MOD Squad
I presume the MOD squad are veteran jobbers? Zenk and Pillman are in control for the majority of the match and they actually seem a decent pairing on this showing, they kinda remind me of the Can-Am connection . It seemed like this would be over quickly but the MOD squad do get some offence in on Pillman and grind him down for a bit. They stop him from tagging in Zenk initially but he gets the hot tag and comes in and cleans house and the Zenk/Pillman combo win when Zenk nails one of the MOD boys with a cross body off the top rope.

Handle bars and helmets

Cactus Jack Manson vs Mil Mascaras
Wow what a weird match up, The legendary 'man of a thousand masks' Mil Mascaras against a young Mick Foley in an early incarnation of the Cactus Jack gimmick.
This should be a complete style clash but it actually works pretty well, with Mascaras showing a lot of early technical flair and Cactus selling the moves well. Later Foley takes a sick bump off the apron onto the concrete floor smacking his head as he lands straight on his back. This leads to Mascaras winning of course, no way was Cactus going over a legend like Mascaras but because of the bump Cactus took it paints him as a dangerous character and keeps the evolution of his persona progressing well.

Norman the Lunatic vs Kevin Sullivan
Another Clash, another Norm match. I'm not really into this guy. Same way I wasn't into Eugene (WWE) years later which is basically the same character right? Any way, this was a falls Count Anywhere match which probably helps these two, Sullivan especially is a decent brawler. Ultimately though this is a lame waste of 10 minutes which I think Norm won, It's hard to tell, but he seems to be holding a toilet seat aloft in victory.

Skyscrapers vs Road Warriors
The first match of the night started with each wrestler having a little promo vid/interview package before they were introduced and the same happens here. I quite like it and I'm not sure why they didn't do it for all the matches as its a good little entertaining touch. The Road Warriors segment sees them beating up a car.

This is the Spivey / Calloway incarnation of the Skyscrapers. The future Undertaker replacing Sid Vicious in the team. Without Sid, who although not the greatest wrestler in the world and gets his fair share of stick, was at least charismatic and had presence, this team is pretty boring in my opinion. Both would later have gimmicks I thought were great though, the aforementioned 'taker and Waylon Mercy a short lived but entertaining character that Spivey went by in the WWF.
This is an OK match and probably exactly what you'd expect from the two teams with the Road Warriors getting the win via DQ.

Mean Mark

Doom (with their masks on the line)vs The Steiner Brothers (putting the titles up for grabs)
This is a good solid match and easily the best match of the night so far. The Steiners win via pin fall after Rick rips the mask off one of the Doom members exposing Butch Reed beneath it. Ron Simmons is of course then required to take his mask off too. Steiners keep the belts and Doom come out from under the hoods which was probably a good idea by this point.

Cage Match
Great Muta, Dragon Master and Buzz Sawyer vs Ric Flair , Arn Anderson and Ole Anderson
Muta has definitely risen in the popularity stakes since the first COTC i reviewed and he seems over as hell here.
Sting appears and tries to scale the cage a few times to interfere during the match but is restrained by fellow face wrestlers who pile out from the back.
The ring action really plays second fiddle to the story that unfolds outside of it and the match is really no more than an angle to keep the Flair/Sting story going. So it's a mute point to really comment on what actually happens in the match, it's fairly even but Flair and the Anderson's win. The victory sees the cage door unlocked and Flair charges from the ring to attack Sting and chaos erupts as the closing credits roll.

I liked this event and found it as entertaining as any of the previous Clash of the Champions events. Maybe It was to do with the better presentation/ production.

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

I couldn't sleep a few nights ago, so I got out of bed and ventured to the TV, in the dim light I scrambled for a DVD to watch and came across the Bobby Heenan DVD that came out a few years ago. The DVD reminded me (not that I'd really forgotten) that goddamn I love me some Bobby Heenan!!!

For anyone who hasn't seen this DVD or hell, maybe isn't familiar with the genius of Heenan I really do recommend it. There's an insightful documentary about the life of the Brain, with family, friends and colleagues sharing their Heenan storys and also some well picked matches highlighting his career.
The matches include what for me is the greatest commentary performance in the history of the business too, the 1992 Royal Rumble Match. The famous rumble that sees Ric Flair crowned as WWF Champion is made all the greater by the commentary of Heenan and partner Gorilla Monsoon, it really is stunning as Heenan sobs and whimpers with every Flair injustice and celebrates and rejoices in every Flair offencive manoeuvre.

A few years later Bobby Heenan's emotional on air farewell to the recently deceased Monsoon still manages to bring a lump to my throat just as it did then. There's just something about seeing the usually laugh out loud funny Heenan clearly upset and distressed at Monsoons passing.

Heenan was diagnosed with throat cancer in the early 2000's and now struggles to talk with his previous great gusto, which makes his 2004 induction into the Hall of Fame even more impressive as Heenan despite this disability manages to not only spin some great tales but also completely steal the show. Cancer or no cancer class and natural ability shine through and watching Heenan become more and more his old self throughout his induction is both heartwarming and inspiring.

This video highlights what is missing in today's wrestling companies, not just quality managers which is definitely a forgotten and dead art (surprising as a lot of today's talent could really use a mouthpiece) but also larger than life characters with the natural ability to make you believe in the product.

Bobby Heenan - Best wrestling manager ever? Without doubt*

Bobby Heenan - One of the best characters of wrestling ever? I think so!

*I did meet a chap some years ago who swore by the management skills of the devious Mr.Fuji, and considered his work to be unparallelled

Clash Of The Champions 9

Clash of the Champions 9 - New York Knockout.
November 15th, 1989 from the Houston Field House, New York
Live from deep in WWF territory

The Funk - Flair feud is still raging it seems and pride it on the line!! They are going at it in a 'I quit' match later in the night.

Jim Ross and Gordon Solie are on commentary

The Freebirds vs The Road Warriors
The Freebirds enter like they at a 70's disco and descend the stairs. It's the first Clash I've seen that has a 'modern' entrance way like what we see today. Each Clash seems to get better in that respect presentation wise, although there's something about the Road Warriors walking down lit up disco steps which doesn't quite work for them.
Michael Hayes and Animal start the action and Hayes is quick to escape the ring after a couple of blows from Animal, he points to his head outsmarting the big lug but quickly realises that Animal is right behind him and tosses him back into the ring like a rag doll. The waiting Hawk takes him down, and Jimmy Garvin is given similar treatment.
Freebirds suck chant the crowd!!
Hayes is back in the ring and Hawk beats him mercilessly. How do you stop the momentum of these warriors? Garvin briefly gets the upper hand on Animal but is soon dealt with.
As expected though the Freebirds with a smart double team do get control and they quick tag and continue to double team to work over Warrior Animal. Hawk can't stand to watch though and charges the ring pushing ref Tommy Young out of the way and making the save.
The bell goes and the Road Warriors have been disqualified for the manhandling of the official as they beat on The Freebirds.

The last two Clashes also started with either a Road Warriors or Freebirds match, and it's obvious why you'd have either or both these teams kick start an event from a booking point of view, as you know they are gonna set a good opening pace. The match felt a bit forced at the end though and was ultimately disappointing.

Big Men. Bad Sports

Terry Funk is interviewed by Jim Ross and cuts a promo about tonight's main event. Did you ever notice how Terry Funk talks like he's been possessed by the spirits of about 7 ghosts? His voice seems to change pitch and tone nearly every other line.

Sting is presented with a fans award for being the most popular wrestler in the NWA by Bill Apter from Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Flair collects the 'wrestler of the decade' award. Perhaps the coveted 'biggest boosh' award would have been more appropriate, as Flair's hair is absolutely massive at this stage...magnificent!

Tommy Rich & Eddie Gilbert vs Doom
Women presents her new tag team DOOM! I think this has some connections to that Steiner 'trip' angle at the last Clash(8) that was possibly further expanded on at Halloween Havoc '89 but I haven't seen that HH in years so will have to go back and see what went down.
Doom is of course Ron Simmons and Butch Reed and my understanding is that Simmons is pretty green here, so it was a master stroke to partner him with a steady handed veteran like Butch Reed.
Gilbert and Rich surprisingly get the early advantage in this one. But it might be the only offence they'll get in here, as momentum soon shifts to Doom who go about using slow power move after power move to work over their opponents and bring the match down to their own pace.
Tommy Rich gets nailed by a double team clothesline and Doom get the pin and victory. I wanted to see more of Tommy Rich, just not like this.

Jim Cornette interviews the Steiner Bros and asks about the new move Scott's been doing which Rick drools they've named the Franken-Steiner. The Steiner's apparently might make an exception of never hitting a female for Women.

The Dynamic Dudes vs The Midnight Express
This match starts at a great fast pace and as Ross and Solie point out this is an evenly matched bout.
The side interest here is that Cornette is in a 'neutral' corner, as he has stakes in both teams. The match continues with momentum shifting between both teams, Shane Douglas does a fantastic suicide dive/flying body press to the outside onto Beautiful Bobby which is a well worked move actually as partner Johnny Ace held down the top rope to allow extra clearance.
Back in the ring there's a nice little exchange between Douglas and Bobby in the corner as Douglas avoids a superplex and delivers a cross body from the top turnbuckle. Douglas actually looks to have come on a lot since we saw the dudes at COTC 7.
Sweet Stan nails Ace from outside the apron as he attempts a head scissors which briefly puts the Express on top but they can't sustain it and the Express are in big trouble.
Cornette enters the ring and nails Douglas with the tennis racket! It was all a ruse!! The Express get the win.
Good match. The Dudes and Douglas especially have come on leaps and bounds.

Super Destroyer vs Dr Death Steve Williams
Masked man at COTC, hang on, you don't think this is our old friend the terrorist/assassin do you?? Same build that's for sure. I'd like to think its him.
Super Destroyer starts the match as a familiar looking Santa Claus - yes I said Santa Claus - makes his way to the ring. It's Norman.
I'm distracted my the jolly lunatic (could have been a good gimmick) but the action in the ring sees Dr Death throw super destroyer out of the ring and through a ringside table. A Oklahoma Stampede slam from Williams brings this match to an end abruptly as Williams gets the 1,2,3!!
Williams celebrates with Santa

Dr. Death made the nice list

The Skyscrapers vs The Steiner Brothers
This is the Vicious/Spivey incarnation of the Skyscrapers and I'd forgotten that they have decent entrance music and make quite an imposing impression as they stroll to the ring.Skyscrapers Theme
Rick Steiner as bumbling buffoon? Is this a new development? I don't remember him being this clown like. He's in the crowd giving away popcorn as Scott makes his way to the ring alone sound tracked by 'Welcome to the jungle' which definitely doesn't suit them here.
Rick and Spivey get things started, Rick German suplexes Spivey out of the ring straight away, but he gets back in and hits Rick with what can only be described as a tombstone piledriver, Rick kicks out though. Spivey is now in control but it's short lived as Rick gets the tag to Scott who comes in and hits Spivey with a SWEET Frankensteiner and then hits the invading Sid with what Ross describes as a 'fall away slam' but it's a ugly weird looking move what ever it is. That's not to take anything away from the strength involved though.
Back in the ring, the Scrapers get the upper hand and Spivey misses a drop kick on Scott Steiner by about 8 yards, he proceeds to then do another weird looking move, what is it with this match? He looks like he's gonna tombstone him - realises hes already done that move and just kinda tosses Steiner away, good old JR still tries to convince us it's a 'side slam' though..behave JR!
Rick comes in and just as it looks like the Steiners might have done enough to get a win Doom and Women hit the ring to interfere and beat on the Steiners. Ricks about to get his hands on Women when her 'big surprise' that she hinted at in an earlier promo in the form of her new bodyguard Nitron hits the ring to save her. If the chaos couldn't get anymore errrrm chaotic the Road Warriors hit the ring too and you've now got four massive teams going at it.

US Title Match
Flyin' Brian Pillman vs Lex Luger
This kinda feels like the first match 'proper' of the evening, with the US Title on the line and Luger seemingly hesitant to lock up with Pillman, showing the importance of the match and the possible fear Luger may have of being de-throned. The opening flurry of moves from the two men sees Pillman get the edge and Luger retreats to the outside to re-think his strategy. He should have given it more time though as he quickly escapes to the outside again with plan B also letting him down.
And its the same for the third game plan too as the next exchange sees Luger stopped at every turn but the fast rising Pillman, Luger is gonna have his work cut out here. Spinning kicks, arm bars, flying drop kicks, chops, action in and out of the ring, Pillman is throwing everything at Luger who's barely replied to Pillmans considerable offence.
Inevitably though Pillman makes a mistake and Luger comes back into the match with a nod of a head that says 'right I've taken everything you've got now it's my turn'. Now Luger is hitting Brian with the power moves and tossing him around the ring. Luger takes control and Pillman attempts a few desperation roll ups as he takes the Luger barrage.
Guts get Pillman back into the match and a flying cross body from the rope leads to what could have been a 3 count but during the move the ref has taken a (quite well worked) bump and is down in the ring. Luger shows his experience and grabs a chair and nails Pillman with it just as the ref comes round to make the 3 count. Luger wins and continues to beat Pillman with the chair after the count before applying the Torture Rack. Sting comes to the ring to help Pillman. Good Match.

Does Sting call Luger 'an arrogant smackhead'?

Ric Flair vs Terry Funk
Jim Ross tells us that there is 'about 30 minutes of airtime left here' as the match gets underway.
Funk is immediately thrown to the outside and crashes into the guard rail leaving the Funker dazed as he staggers back to the ring.Flair seems the more fired up for this one and is chasing down Funk with avengeance, in fact it's this fire that leads Flair to grapple with Funk which is never a good idea and Terry quickly gets the upper hand, raking the eyes of Flair and putting the boots to him on the apron.
Funk takes Flair to the outside and puts some heavy hands to him against the guardrail. It's here that we the mic comes into play for the first time as back in the ring Funk puts more fists to Flair and asks if he wants to quit. Flair doesn't of course and comes back at Funk with the original fire from earlier in the match, putting his own fists to Funks head outside of the ring. This is just an out and out brawl, there's no wrestling moves as such just punches and chops.
Funk reminds Flair of his previous neck injury via the microphone and starts to work that area with a piledriver in and out of the ring. A table is set up by Funk but its Flair that puts it to use, in what is surely an accidental but good looking move, where Funk is slid across the table and hits a chair at the other side.
The war continues back and forth with each man beating on the other. Flair locks in the figure four and the ref puts the mic in Funks grill waiting for him to quit. Fuck holds on for a while but finally has to say the decisive words 'I quit'. Flair wins!!
Funk and Flair shake hands out of respect for the battle they've just had but Funks manager Gary Hart is less than impressed and nails Funk, this incenses the Nature Boy who fires back at Hart with some shots of his own.
Harts stable come to the ring and put the shots to flair before Sting sprints to the ring to make his second save of the evening. The event ends in chaos as Luger also hits the ring to hit both Flair and Sting with a chair.

Clash Of The Champions 8

Clash of the Champions 8 - Fall Brawl 89
September 12, 1989 from the Carolina Coliseum , Columbia, South Carolina

So we arrive at Clash Of The Champions 8, this follows on a few months after the last Clash I watched and we kick off with rumours and back stage whispers about Gary Harts camp. There's problems in the Hart stable it seems.

Straight into an interview with Gary Hart - Hart denies any feud or unrest in his stable. This will be the theme of this particular clash as we will continue to cut back to Hart and interviewer Gordon Solie. There's really no need, each segment is just a repeat of the last, that there is NO PROBLEM in the camp Hart. In fact even Gordon Solie seems to be out of interest by the last interview.

Road Warriors vs Samoan Swat Team

Two juggernauts collide.
Animal looks HUGE in this match, sorry but it's the first thing i noticed, the man was always big but this is got to be the biggest I've ever seen him look, he looks totally jacked in this one. Which might be why in the early stages the SST want nothing to do with the Road Warriors. The Warriors are commanding the early brawling. But as these matches usually go the SST get back into it and take control and start wearing down Hawk.
This goes on for a while till Animal hot tags in and with that it's a Doomsday Device (was it called that at this stage?)and the Road Warriors take the win.
Post match Paul Ellering smashes Heymans phone, and if that wasn't bad enough for the Paul.E the SST are not happy with him at all and walk off to the backstage alone, leaving their crestfallen manager to wonder how he was gonna call for a taxi home.

Cuban Assassin Vs Tom Zenk the Z man

This is Tom Zenks NWA debut. I wonder who will win??
Is this Cuban Assassin 'The Terrorist' from the last Clash of the Champions??  Could be and he's out from under the hood. Step up for that man!!! Zenk uses the sleeper as his finisher...is that cos he's the zzzzzzz man?? Clever
Not quite the squash id expected, still pretty easy for the Z man though.

Speaking of zzzzz....
Teddy Long is talking jive and quite frankly I'm not listening.

Flyin Brian Pillman video package again just like the last Clash..Deja Vu,things haven't moved on much it seems.

Nope they haven't cos it's Ranger Rod or whatever his name is on his way to the ring, I presumed this guy was a one time deal!!! Oh well..

Ranger Ross vs Sid Vicious

Sid looks in great shape in this one, hell when didn't Sid look in great shape? He's straight on Ranger Ronny, throwing him to the outside and then fetching him easily back in, DDT, followed by Helicopter Slam, followed by Power Bomb and it's over in seconds..is that the end of Ranger Rodger? I hope so

Even Yogi thought this guy was Badass!

Fabulous Freebirds vs Steiner Bros

The Freebirds are defending the tag titles they won at Clash of the Champions 7.
The Steiners enter to 'Welcome to the Jungle', get in!!! It doesn't suit them at all, in fact it's probably the least appropriate entrance music ever, but still, get in!!! (in fairness this guys had a decent stab at making it work for the Steiners, Steiners Custom Tron)
Jim Cornette on commentary lists Scott Steiners likes during the match, like he's looking for potential suitors, skiing and eating apparently ladies..at the same time maybe??
This is a great back and forth contest between two great teams which includes some outside brawling which even prompts a ringside policeman to kneel down and look concerned at the fallen Rick Steiner, that guy should have been on the payroll if he wasn't already.
But alas the Midnight Express wins when Hayes DDT's Scott.
Buuuuuuut, Who tripped Scott?? It's a mystery, see leading up to the DDT someone tripped Scott Steiner but no one knows who, the cameras didn't pick it up when we go to the replay. Some are saying it was Missy Hyatt, some are saying it was Robin Green. Jim Ross does a great job here of looking startled, bewildered, confused and concerned all at the same time here as he voices the drama of the situation.

Norman the Lunatic vs Flyin' Brian Pillman

Pillman throws everything but the kitchen sink at Norm in the opening exchanges, sweet looking drops, kicks, a close line off the top rope and a flying body press to the outside. He's distracted by Teddy Long though and the Lunatic comes back at Pillman with some offence of his own. Pillman kicks out of a splash from the second rope. Norm telegraphs a splash onto Pillman against the ring post though and suddenly Pillmans back. He throws around the 300 plus pounder here with remarkable ease, it's a little too easy if you ask me, body slamming him and delivering a back body drop like Norms a cruiser weight.
Pillman kicks out of a huge slam from Big Norm. And after a crucifix take down Pillman eventually gets the victory.
Pillman is made to look absolute dynamite in this match and credit has to go to Norm for helping to do so. Pillman must have been on a huge push at the time. A more enjoyable match than I'd expected when the two men's names were announced.

Stevie Wonders blind date turned up

Mike Rotunda vs Steve Williams

Jim Ross is in his absolute element here, talking about the two men's college backgrounds and sporting achievements. Cornette has caught the bug too seemingly having a go at out doing Ross in the college football knowledge. Cornette says there are huge similarities between the two men, maybe college football wise but for me Rotunda is head and shoulders above Williams in the ring - unfair??
Match goes back and forth and in a huge miscarriage of justice Dr Death somehow flukes a win.

Lex Luger vs Tommy Rich
U.S Title Match

I'll be honest, I don't know much about Tommy Rich, wrong time and wrong promotion for me, but he gets a huge pop here on his way to the ring and seems over in a big bad way with the crowd. The opening exchanges are impressive from Rich too. He looks pretty slick in the ring as he takes it to Luger. A few near falls mainly from small packages and roll ups threaten to take Lugers belt in fact, but each time Luger comes back at Rich. Rich finally makes a huge mistake by trying to mix power with Luger and Luger takes advantage by showing Tommy what power is all about, working the lower back of his opponent with Powerslams and Suplexes. Tommy Rich shows a huge amount of guts to come back into the match and it looks like he might get the victory, but he just doesn't have enough to beat Luger and indeed it's the Total Package that gets the win. I was impressed by Rich though, hopefully I'll see more of him.

Pre-match the hospitalised Funker Warns Flair of the Perils of masturbation

Dick Slater & Muta vs Sting & Ric Flair

Dick Slater is revealed as Muta's partner in for the injured Terry Funk
Sting and Muta start and the two put together some great exchanges. Both men look in great shape here, I know I keep saying that but honestly every one on the bill looks on top of there game for this Clash. Flair comes In and it has to be said even the Naitch looks in great shape here too. Flair throws the classic Nature Boy offence at Slater. Muta dives outside the ring onto Flair, Sting dives on Muta, Slater comes out and the four men brawl outside the ring. Great stuff.

Back in the ring Flair and Sting regain the upper hand. Slater and Muta come back into it and the crowd are going nuts for this match. The match goes back and forth at a fast pace as the crowd start to lose their minds, all four men seem to be feeding off the crowd. A great example of the electricity missing in today's wrestling business.
It was always on the cards and right on cue here comes Terry Funk. He invades the ring and puts plastic bag on Flairs head,whilst this sounds pretty ridiculous and comical it actually works quite well and you believe that Flair is in real danger of suffocation here when Funk ties a rope round the neck of Flair. Funk grabs a branding Iron and 'burns' Ric's leg for good measure.
The show goes off air with Flair being helped by paramedics, good last match and attack by Funk which keeps their story going, i dare say into the next Clash and certainly the upcoming Halloween Havoc.

ECW Barely Legal '97

Barely Legal 97

1st of April

From the ECW Arena Philadelphia

Joey styles welcomes us to Extreme Championship Wrestling and 'beautiful' South Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . As he speaks the Dudleys come to the ring. The chants that fill the arena of 'fuck you D'von' instantly let you know that this is EC fucking W!! You just wouldn't have heard this at a WCW or WWF event; this is a completely different crowd and attitude, more akin to a punk rock crowd than a traditional wrestling crowd. D'von says its time to 'testify'...roll opening credits!

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The ECW crowd await the action

The Dudleys vs The Eliminators

The Eliminators (Perry Saturn and John Kronus) come to the ring and take out Sign Guy Dudley before the Dudley boys come into the ring and start the proceedings proper on The Eliminators, hitting them with a top rope vertical suplex and a bubba slam.

Saturn enters the ring and cleans house and via some impressive kick manoeuvres The Eliminators come back into it. Already here we see why ECW stood out in 97 from the big two, moves you just wouldn't see from those company's, such as a Saturn-sault and a 'space flying Kronos drop'! Is Joey making these names up?

The assault from the eliminators continues and includes an awesome 450 splash from Kronus.Before they deliver the 'Total Elimination' to Bubba and take the belts!! New champions!! Great start to E.C.Dubs first PPV.

Chris Candido should have been in the next match apparently, he’s in the ring with his arm in a sling (poet!!) and cuts a promo. He's whining about something but if I’m honest it’s hard to tell what.

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Saturn and Kronus

Lance Storm vs Rob Van Dam

A great, slick, fluid start to the match, with both men getting in some nice offensive manoeuvres and competent technicality. RVD hits a suicide dive to the outside on Storm which gives RVD the upper hand briefly but Storm fights back sending RVD to the outside of the ring, he misses his own attempted dive to the outside and RVD is back into it. You can’t help but feel that Storm mixing it in this way with the dives and moving to the outside is not the way to beat a man like RVD. Rob connects with a moonsault off the guardrail as if to emphasise the point.

Chair work by Van Dam again showing why ECW is a different animal, there’s no DQ’s here. A Frog splash from RVD and it's looking all too easy, but no, Storm kicks out. Van dam grabs a chair again and smashes it into Storms face.

But again mistakes by RVD allow Storm back and he delivers some nice moves before he hits a sweet tiger bomb, but this time it’s RVD that kicks out.

Van Dam doesn't quite hit a spring board back elbow and the crowd chant 'you fucked up'.

Van Dam-inator from RVD and Storms beaten! Good match.

RVD grabs a mic to chants of ‘you sold out’. He says how he's now worth more money ELSEWHERE thanks to this win.

*side note* You can feel the Production of PPV is nervy and not quite as slick as it could be.

Michinoku Pro Wrestling Match

Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada. Gran Naniwa vs Terry Boy, Dick Togo, Take Michinoku (International BWO)

Streamers are thrown from crowd into the ring. This is a showcase match for Michinoku Pro Wrestling, you would have thought especially at a debut PPV that ECW’s attention would have been on getting over their own guys, but I think this actually does a good job of showing what you can expect from ECW and how they are ahead of the curve. The match fits in with rest of ECW’s product and doesn't seem like the novelty match that these kind of matches appeared when say the WWF tried similar things.

Match starts with quite standard stuff but soon speeds up. There’s zero point in trying to explain what happens here as it’s a real spot fest of moves. The dude in green that looks like Peter Pan does some sweet moves. Really entertaining Lucha Libre/ cruiserweight style match.

Great Sasuke gets his team the win!! Note: Sasuke would appear for the WWF later this same year.

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The Great Sasuke is under all these belts somewhere

ECW World Television Title Match
Shane Douglas vs Pitbull #2
Shane Douglas comes to the ring with Francine and a 'riot squad' although they look like extras from that shitty Biker Boyz movie, this is due to the serious crowd heat the Franchise has after breaking Pitbull #1's (who is at ringside) neck weeks earlier.
Francine looks great here!! FACT

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Shane's protection

Douglas cuts a promo in the ring, drawing more heat for his earlier actions.

Pitbull sprints to the ring and just like that the action is under way and it's Pitbull #2 that has the advantage. Throughout the very early exchanges Pitbulls music continues to play, it's highly annoying - just a small point.

It's all Pitbull in the opening minutes with Douglas struggling to get any offence in, Pitbull hits some nice power moves on Douglas as Francine looks on with huge concern.
Douglas gets back into the match though with one of the most shambolic looking hurricanranas in PPV history and sets about delivering pile drivers to his opponent in an attempt to break his neck and get the matching pair.

At this point it has to be said that the crowd don't seem to be as bothered about this as maybe Douglas and ECW would like, in fact they seem more interested in chanting about Francines alleged S.T.D's as Douglas continues to work the neck.

This is until what looks like a botched counter from Pitbull after a Douglas flying cross body leads to Douglas being dumped out of the ring and through a ringside table.
Douglas gets too close to the guardrail by which Pitbull #1 is sitting and Pitbull #1 jumps the guard rail and delivers a barrage of shots to the staggering Franchise before the Blue Oyster Club boys, sorry I mean riot squad drag him away.
A guardrail comes into play, and after a few botched attempts of using it with any effect Douglas Throws it out of the ring and onto Pitbull #2. Douglas is in control. The crowd chant 'she's a whore' again, showing how much that in ring action captivates.
Top rope mistake by Douglas leaves both men down in the centre of the ring which leads to the Pitbull getting back into this one with some nice clotheslines, drop kicks and powerslams. Douglas kicks out at two of a pin attempt and is duly handed a foreign object by the schemeing Francine, what ever it is is used by Douglas as he rocks Pitbull with some punches, but Pitbull kicks out of the first pin attempt and a second after being nailed with both a chair and the ring bell.
Pitbull makes a superhuman come back but Douglas reaches for the ring bell and bashes him with it, buteven that doesn't end it. No in the end despite all that earlier punishment Douglas wins with a very simple belly to belly suplex.

Moments after the 3 count a voice comes over the P.A the masked man that's been challenging Douglas recently says he'll take the mask off if Douglas gives up the girl...hmmmmm....only one man would go this far for a honey...it's the ravishing one!!! Disguised as one of the biker boys he nails Douglas.

Taz vs Sabu
Sabu can't wait to get at Taz for this grudge match, and hits the ring before his music has had chance to play.
Taz gets the early advantage and hits Sabu with some stiff clotheslines and submission holds. Giving a Sabu a bloody nose in the process.This seems to be just the encouragement that the homicidal maniac needs though, as he comes back at Taz with a spring board leg drop sending Taz out of the ring before delivering a firm baseball slide that sends Taz over the guard rail and into the crowd. This obviously delights Sabu who dashes for a chair, sets it up in the ring, then dives off it from the ring over the guard rail and onto the unsuspecting Taz.
The crowd errupt as the men brawl in the seating area.
Back into the ring and after a quick back and forth Sabu again takes control (or as much control as Sabu ever has). A mistake though leads to Taz dropping him face first onto a chair and momentum shifts again. Before long the crowd get another close look at Sabu as he is dumped into the front row.
Failed swinging DDT attempt by Sabu means he crashes through a table. You just can't keep Sabu down though as he fights back in his own reckless style.
Joey Styles loves legs, honestly, he tells us at least 5 times that he can't believe how strong Sabus legs are.
Sabu mocks Taz then locks on his own Tazmission (sabmission???), which is a nice touch. But you won't beat Taz with his own move and he counters easily and locks on the move himself for the victory!

Rvd and Sabu beat down Taz postmatch after Taz showed respect to and shook the hand of Sabu.

Don't turn your back on him Taz

3 way dance to face Raven in the main event title match
Stevie Richards vs Sandman vs Terry Funk (Tommy Dreamer joins Joey Styles on commentary)

If you were watching ECW for the first time back then, Sandman smashing himself with the beer can so that he bleeds before the match has even started must have seemed mental! I'm not even focusing on the smoking and beer drinking entrance here .

The match starts awkwardly with the 3 men in the ring trying to find a rhythm to the ever awkward 3 way. This kind of matches always starts like this as the traditional lock ups and early grapples are redundant here. One way round this is to double team and that's exactly what Sandman and Stevie do as they double team Funker. Sandman turns on Richards though allowing Funk to regain composure and he hits Stevie with 5 neck breakers.
Sandman brings a ladder to the proceedings and beats both men with his new weapon.
Fantastically rubbish moonsault off the ladder from Funk - fantastic cos he's 53, rubbish because...it's rubbish.
All 3 men dish out and take some punishment. Styles remarks 'what makes ECW different..you're looking at it' and it's hard to disagree as the action spills to the outside and sandman disappears to retrieve more weapons. Richards takes the brunt of the beating from Funk and Sandman and he is pinned by both to be the first elimination.
Sandman again disappears here to retrieve some barbed wire and after both men make use of this
Funk gets the victory.

Raven comes to the ring and beats on Funk kick starting the final match of the evening.

ECW World Championship Match
Raven vs Terry Funk

Funk is bloodied and beaten and Raven takes full advantage, stomping and pulverising Funk. It's a savage beating as Raven sends Funk through a table. Ravens then joined by flock members who lend a hand to the brutalising of funk.

Dreamer leaves his commentary position to go make a save but e is attacked by Big D Dudley. Tommy sends Big D off the commentary stage though and heads to the ring where he nails Raven with a DDT and Funk pins Raven to take the title! New ECW champion!

Funking ain't easy y'all

Highly enjoyable event and a remarkable debut PPV from ECW.

Ten Of The Best!!

Well I'm away and bored so a quick post is in order. Here's my ten favourite wrestlers in no particular order:

1, Randy Savage
I always and I mean ALWAYS loved Savage, heel or face, didn't matter, he was just awesome and his ability to tell a story and sell was second to none for me - ring work, check! Promo/ Mic work, check! The look/Gimmick, check!

2, Bret Hart - excellence of execution. Simple!

3, Ric Flair - nobody did it like Flair he was just awesome at playing the arrogant playboy who could back it up in the ring, his '92 royal rumble win remains my favourite match- moment in wrestling history.

4,Sting - When I was a kid the WCW was a mysterious entity in the UK (well to me at least), it seemed so much grittier than the WWF, filled with seemingly old brawlers with no real gimmicks to speak of,but there was one guy who seemed to have the later than life gimmick and personality to mix it with the guys up north and that man was Sting.

5, Sabu - from the very first moment I saw the suicidal maniac on an old ECW traded tape I found him completely and utterly captivating.

6, Ted Dibiase - along with Flair the best heel in the game for me.

7, Mick Foley - always loved Cactus Jack, loved mankind, love foley. Foley is good!

8, Eddie Guerrero - Just a massive fan of his in ring work.

9, Rick Rude - There's possibly something wrong with me, because I don't think any self respecting male should have found Rudes WWF gimmick as entertaining as I did. Stop the music..what I want right now is for all you fat, out of shape, inner city sweat hogs....etc, brilliant. His ring work was great too.

10, Raven - A bit like Sabu I just always found Raven completely captivating, loved the flock, loved his psychology.