Written by: Bob Colling
Extreme Championship Wrestling presents Hardcore TV
Date: 10/18/1997
From: Amarillo, TX
Matches:
1.) ECW World Champion Shane Douglas defeated Tommy Dreamer to retain the title
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) A video highlighting Brian Pillman is shown. This was done due to Pillman’s recent passing and he had a memorable few months in ECW despite not actually ever wrestling in a match.
2.) ECW Television Champion Taz cuts a promo on the Pitbulls. Taz says that he’s not a company man and Gary (Pitbull #2) is right to say that. Taz has one friend that he can trust and they believe in each other. Taz made a friend for life on June 6th and he’s talking about the ECW Television Championship. Taz says that it’s more important than Shane Douglas’ belt. Taz believes he’s the best wrestler on TV as a result. Taz laughs at the insults and says he’s not a paper champion. Taz wants to fight the Pitbulls in a handicap match if they are capable of staying out of jail. Taz will wrestle Lance Wright, too. Taz wants a three on one handicap match.
3.) The match between Shane Douglas and Tommy Dreamer in Texas is join in progress. Douglas drops Dreamer groin first over a chair followed by a dropkick to the knees. Douglas puts a figure four on Dreamer, but doesn’t get a submission. Francine and Beulah gets involved. Dreamer nearly wins with a rollup, but Douglas delivers a chop block to stop the momentum. Douglas climbs to the top rope, but Beulah distracts Douglas allowing Dreamer to slam Douglas to the mat. Dreamer continues with strikes in the corner and a backdrop. Dreamer comes off the ropes with a bulldog for a two count. Dreamer calls for a DDT, but Francine enters and rakes Dreamer’s eyes. Beulah and Francine have a catfight, as expected. Dreamer goes for a DDT on Francine, but Douglas chop blocks Dreamer. Douglas grabs Beulah and yanks her down to the mat. Douglas hits a belly to belly suplex on Beulah. Dreamer nearly pins Douglas with a rollup. Dreamer plants Douglas with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Dreamer connects with a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Dreamer plants Douglas with a DDT. Francine enters and Dreamer spikes Francine with a piledriver! Douglas gets up and Dreamer delivers more rights. Douglas hits the belly to belly suplex for the win. (NR. It’s not the complete match, so I can’t rate it properly. That was a good closing sequence and Douglas getting a clean win over Dreamer was something I wasn’t expecting.)
4.) ECW World Champion Shane Douglas knows that everyone, man or woman, want a night with Francine. Douglas is the only man that can make that happen, but he’s not in a generous mood. Douglas is pimping Francine out whenever he sees fit.
5.) Mikey Whipwreck is interviewed by Joey Styles. Whipwreck feels like he wants to finish his career in ECW. Whipwreck isn’t afraid of his shadow and he’s not afraid of Sabu and RVD. Whipwreck will give them a fight when they want one.
6.) Tommy Dreamer cuts a promo about the promises he’s made and how he’s come through on those promises. Whether it’s been to defeat Raven or to defeat Jerry Lawler. Dreamer says he’s going to mess Sabu up and do so real bad. Dreamer is going to show how homicidal and genocidal he can be.
7.) Little Guido, Tommy Rich and Tracy Smothers are making a pizza at a pizza place. Guido is explaining to Rich how to make a pizza. Guido shows them how to toss dough. Smothers tries to do it and the dough lands on his face. Smothers and Guido begin to argue.
Final Thoughts:
It looks like Taz doesn’t really have a challenger for the TV Championship and is now in a filler feud with the Pitbulls. I’m not all that interested in that, really. The show was okay this week as it’s the final show revolving around As Good As It Gets. Next week appears to be the return of original content and I’m looking forward to that.
Thanks for reading.