Written by: Bob Colling
Extreme Championship Wrestling presents Hardcore TV
Date: 11/20/1999
From: Philadelphia, PA
Matches:
1.) ECW Television Champion Rob Van Dam fought Sabu to a time limit draw to retain the title
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Bill Alfonso talked to both Sabu and RVD as he’s acting as their managers despite them wrestling each other. Sabu tries to tackle RVD early on, but RVD sidesteps the attempts. They start off trading right hands until Sabu takes RVD down, but is kicked away. Sabu reaches the ropes to break a go-behind by RVD. Sabu misses a springboard moonsault and they miss several more strikes leading to a standoff. Sabu decks RVD from behind and rolls over RVD’s back. RVD takes Sabu down to the mat to control Sabu with a front face lock. Sabu misses a springboard and RVD springboards over. RVD takes Sabu over with a northern lights suplex for a near fall. RVD tries to slam Sabu, but is met with a dropkick on the knee for a two count. Sabu dropkicks RVD through the ropes to the floor. Sabu sends RVD into the guard railing and is met with a boot. RVD crotches Sabu over the railing and delivers right hands followed by a heel kick to knock Sabu into the crowd. RVD drops Sabu over the railing chest first and hit a somersault senton into the crowd off the railing as the show goes to commercial.
RVD corkscrew leg drops Sabu over the railing from off the apron. RVD tosses a chair into the ring, but Sabu gets the chair and smashes RVD with it as RVD tried to return to the ring. Sabu follows to the floor and sends RVD into the railing back first. Sabu lays a table over the railing and apron. Sabu puts RVD onto the table, but RVD rolls off to avoid a springboard. Sabu takes RVD out with a slingshot somersault dive to the floor! Sabu lays RVD onto the table again and hits a top rope leg drop onto RVD through the table! Sabu baseball slides RVD off the apron and appears he’d be fine winning by count-out, which wouldn’t mean a title change. RVD rolls in and Sabu gets a two count as RVD reached the ropes. Sabu hits a triple jump moonsault and gets a near fall. RVD trips Sabu face first onto the chair. RVD leg drops Sabu and lays a chair onto Sabu to hit a rolling thunder splash leading to a near fall as Sabu reached the ropes. Sabu kicks RVD a few times, but RVD fires back with forearms in the corner. RVD monkey flips Sabu out of the corner onto a steel chair and gets a two count.
Sabu hits a springboard leg drop and both men are struggling to get up. Sabu tries for a cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Sabu leg drops RVD onto a chair for a two count. RVD takes Sabu over with a suplex for a two count and delivers a few strikes on the mat. RVD hits a standing moonsault for a near fall. RVD puts Sabu in the tree of woe and dropkicks a chair into Sabu’s midsection. RVD locks in a surfboard as the show goes to another commercial.
Sabu crotches RVD on the top rope and delivers right hands. Sabu hits a hurricanrana off the top rope followed by a leg drop for a two count. Sabu dropkicks RVD on the knee and delivers a chair assisted leg drop for a two count. RVD nearly wins with a rollup on the mat as they are doing some sloppy mat wrestling. They get up and trade strikes. They collide in the middle of the ring. The bell sounds and the crowd boos as it has been a time limit draw. The crowd is chanting for Sabu thinking that he won the match. RVD wants five more minutes and the crowd is supportive of that decision. They begin to trade strikes to restart the match. Sabu takes RVD down to the mat and locks in the camel clutch in the middle of the ring! RVD has nowhere to go! RVD is able to roll through the hold and tries for the camel clutch, but Sabu reaches the ropes. RVD plants Sabu with a double under hook and a dropkick to the head. RVD hits a somersault leg drop. RVD is tossed a chair and stomps Sabu. RVD smashes Sabu with the chair to the face. Sabu is given a chair, as well. Alfonso wants it to be fair. Sabu nails RVD with a chair shot over the head. RVD catches Sabu in the corner and sits him on the top rope. Sabu fights free to hit a hurricanrana onto the chair head first. Sabu delivers an Arabian face buster , but RVD kicks out at two! RVD dropkicks Sabu on the mat and tries for a northern light suplex, but Sabu countered with a DDT. Sabu goes to the top rope with a steel chair and hits a somersault leg drop with the chair! RVD manages to kick out at two. Sabu locks in a cross arm bar, but RVD doesn’t give in. Sabu hits a slingshot somersault leg drop from the apron and a moonsault for a two count. The bell sounds again as we go to commercial.
Sabu wants five more minutes, but RVD heads to the floor. Sabu proceeds to take RVD out with a dive to the floor and the match continues. Sabu blocks a kick and puts an ankle lock on RVD in the middle of the ring. RVD is able to get free from the hold. RVD kicks Sabu and hits the Five Star Frog Splash. RVD goes for a cover, but Sabu kicks out. RVD leg sweeps Sabu and hits a leg drop. RVD hits a split legged moonsault for a two count. Sabu hits a moonsault for a two count. RVD rolls Sabu up for a two count. The bell sounds again and the match is declared a draw officially. The match will not continue. (***1/2. It’s a good match and one of the better ones between the two that I’ve seen. If this was based on a points system, Sabu would be the new ECW Television Champion. I’d imagine that would be mentioned to lead to another title match between these two in the future.) After the match, Sabu rejects a handshake and they tease a brawl to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
It’s a fine show as it’s literally just Sabu/RVD. So, if you’re a fan of their matches then you’ll really enjoy the show.
Thanks for reading.