ECW Hardcore TV 7/10/1999

Written by: Bob Colling

Extreme Championship Wrestling presents Hardcore TV
Date: 7/10/1999
From: Philadelphia, PA

Matches:
1.) Francine defeated Dawn Marie in a swimsuit showdown
2.) ECW Television Champion Rob Van Dam defeated Balls Mahoney to retain the title
3.) Justin Credible & Lance Storm defeated Sabu & Jerry Lynn in an extreme death match

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) This show is footage from the Hostile City Showdown special at the ECW Arena. I don’t believe the full show exists.

2.) Steven Prazak is hosting the swimsuit showdown between Dawn Marie and Francine. Francine goes first and reveals her lingerie, essentially. Dawn is not so pleased about this. I find it interesting that ECW would be doing this when they normally crap on WWF for doing similar stuff and Joey Styles kind of references that, as well. Dawn plays to the crowd as it’s her turn to reveal her outfit. Dawn points to the balcony and Justin Credible hit Tommy Dreamer with a kendo stick. Dawn wasn’t even wearing a bikini and attacks Francine from behind! Francine and Dawn roll around the ring with Francine getting the advantage. Francine slaps Dawn to corner and tries for a bronco buster, but Storm spears Francine! Credible enters the ring with a kendo stick. Credible goes to use the kendo stick, but the lights go out! Sabu appears in the ring and cleans house on the Impact Players. Sabu is overwhelmed, but Jerry Lynn runs into the ring with a steel chair to make the save. Sabu hits a dive off the top to the floor onto the heels to end the segment.

3.) RVD controls Mahoney with a headlock to start the contest. RVD rolls over Mahoney’s back and delivers a kick, but Mahoney takes RVD down to the mat. Mahoney locks in a half Boston crab, but RVD doesn’t give in as we go to commercial. Mahoney works over RVD in the corner with strikes and stomps. Mahoney continues with right hands in the corner to stagger RVD. RVD leaps off the top to hit a crossbody for a near fall. RVD hits a standing somersault leg drop for a two count. RVD taunts the crowd and keeps control with strikes. RVD sends Mahoney to the floor with a standing dropkick. RVD kicks a chair into Mahoney’s face in the crowd. RVD dropkicks Mahoney off the apron and hits a somersault dive over the top to the floor. RVD rolls Mahoney back into the ring and hits a slingshot leg drop for a two count. Mahoney slams RVD coming off the ropes and heads to the top rope hitting a leg drop for a near fall. Mahoney twists RVD’s neck to keep control of the contest. RVD elbows free from Mahoney, but runs into a belly to belly suplex. Mahoney goes to the top rope hitting a frog splash for a near fall. Mahoney has been busted open at this point, likely due to the chair shot in the crowd.

Mahoney keeps a sleeper on RVD, but doesn’t get a win with it. RVD elbows free again and comes off the ropes to duck a clothesline. Mahoney slams RVD and goes to the middle rope. Mahoney misses a leg drop as Alfonso brings a chair into the ring. RVD dropkicks the chair into Mahoney’s face for a two count. RVD follows up with the rolling thunder for another near fall. RVD continues to work over Mahoney in the corner. RVD tries for a monkey flip, but Mahoney counters with a powerbomb onto a chair. Mahoney is getting frustrated. Mahoney superkicks RVD and points to the chair. Mahoney has the chair and waits in the corner. RVD ducks a shot and accidentally kicks the referee. Mahoney plants RVD with a sit out spinebuster, but there’s no referee. RVD goes to the top rope and misses a kick. Mahoney proceeds to murder RVD with a chair shot. The Dudley Boys enter the ring and attack Mahoney. D-Von drops Mahoney with a neckbreaker. Bubba hits Mahoney with a tag title. Mahoney fights back with a double clothesline and destroys Bubba and D-Von with chair shots.

Mahoney has slid a table into the ring and a piece of barbed wire. Mahoney sets the table up and lays barbed wire onto the table. Mahoney drops Bubba with a right hand. The fans are chanting for fire. D-Von low blows Mahoney from behind to save Bubba. Sign Guy gives the champs fluid and a match. The table is lit on fire and Mahoney is powerbomed through the flaming barbed wire table. The fans are eating this up. Dudley’s continue to beat on Mahoney with a chair shots as Mahoney is wrapped in barbed wire. RVD makes the save with kicks and kicks a chair into Bubba’s face. RVD hits the frog splash off the top rope and pins Mahoney to retain the title. (***. A solid match and likely would have been even better if it weren’t for the interference from the Dudley’s. I was surprised that Spike Dudley didn’t appear to even the odds at any point. Mahoney did a lot better than I expected in this match. They continue to build the feud between the Dudley’s and Mahoney, which has been interesting.)

4.) ECW World Champion Taz cut a promo backstage recalling his title win against Shane Douglas and his title defense against Sabu earlier in the year. Taz says he has to carry the company with the title over his shoulder. Taz talks about Steve Corino running his mouth and trying to get under his skin. Taz says that Corino knows who he is and doesn’t understand why Corino is trying to mess with him. Taz assures us that he will get his hands on Corino and he’ll take his time with him. Taz talks about choking Bigelow out in Dayton at Heatwave. Taz wants Corino to bring people in from wherever, but it doesn’t matter who Corino gets. Taz is going to kick their ass regardless. Taz believes his best years are ahead of him and Corino is standing in his way.

5.) Justin Credible cuts a promo on Jerry Lynn in the ring. Credible asks Lynn where his partner is for the non-sanctioned extreme tag team match. Lynn thanks Credible for the pro wrestling lesson and says he’s aware of the stipulations for the match. Lynn introduces his partner as being Sabu, who can wrestle in non-sanctioned matches. Impact Players aren’t the brightest team. Credible is none to happy about this. Credible makes it clear that Sabu is banned from wrestling. Credible is not going to get in the ring with Sabu. Bill Alfonso reminds Credible the match is a non-sanctioned one and thus the match is on.

6.) Lynn and Credible start the main event with Lynn chopping Credible several times in the corner. Credible flips in the corner and clotheslines Lynn from the apron. Credible goes to the top, but is met with a flapjack. Sabu is tagged in and Credible bails to the floor. Storm enters the match to try his luck against Sabu. Sabu takes Storm down to the mat and misses an elbow drop. They begin to trade right hands until Sabu hits a messy looking springboard heel kick. Sabu hits a moonsault off the ropes for a near fall. Sabu gets a chair and smashes Storm over the head. Sabu leaps off a chair and splashes Storm in the corner. Lynn enters the match and stomps on Storm in the corner. Lynn chops Storm some more in the corner. Storm superkicks Lynn followed by right hands. Storm forearms Credible off the apron and backdrops Lynn over the top onto Credible. Sabu baseball slides Storm into the crowd and hits a triple jump dive into the crowd. All four men are brawling in the crowd with Lynn and Credible going at it by the balcony. Credible tosses Lynn onto the stage and rams Lynn face first onto a chair. They continue to trade strikes until Lynn sends Credible into the wall. Lynn misses a chair shot.

Lynn tosses off the stage through a table on the floor. Sabu puts Jason through a table on the floor off the top rope. Credible rolls Lynn into the ring and Lynn plants the Impact Players with a double DDT. Lynn connects with a sit down powerbomb on Storm, but Credible makes the save on the cover with a dropkick. Lynn hammers away on Credible, but Credible hits a reverse DDT. Sabu comes off the top to leg drop Credible to break the pin. Storm shoves Sabu off the top and Sabu crashes onto Alfonso through the table. Credible hits Sabu with a kendo stick. Lynn hits a messy looking brainbuster on Storm for a tow count. Credible nails Sabu with a kendo stick and does the same to Lynn. Storm spikes Lynn with a cradle piledriver for the win. (***1/4. I enjoyed the match and I’m glad that the Impact Players were able to prevail here. The brawling was enjoyable and this kind of match allows for the singles feuds to continue and not feel played out.)

Final Thoughts:
A strong episode of Hardcore TV as I really enjoyed the program this week. The matches were strong and we got a Taz promo, which always holds my interest. ECW is on a roll heading into Heatwave.

Thanks for reading.