ECW Hardcore TV 2/20/2000

Written by: Bob Colling

Extreme Championship Wrestling presents Hardcore TV
Date: 2/20/2000
From: Tallahassee, FL

Matches:
1.) Little Guido defeated Chaz Taylor
2.) Kid Kash defeated Simon Diamond
3.) ECW World Champion Mike Awesome defeated Masato Tanaka

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) The closing moments of a match between Mahoney and Grimes is shown where New Jack lit a table on fire. Mahoney put Grimes through the table with a superplex to win the match. After the match, Spanish Angel attacked Jack and Mahoney with a steel chair.

2.) Guido takes Taylor down and they counter each other leading to a standoff. They trade waist locks and Guido gets a two count with a rollup. Guido backs Taylor into a corner and cleanly backs away. Taylor shoulder blocks Guido and gets tripped by Sal on the floor. Taylor atomic drops Guido a couple of times, but Guido comes back with a backslide with a two count after cussing at Taylor. Taylor delivers a jawbreaker and leaps off the top, but Guido gets an arm bar locked in only for Taylor to reach the ropes. Guido chops Taylor in the corner and elbows a charging Taylor. Taylor recovers with a snap powerslam and misses a top rope moonsault. Guido nearly wins with a rollup. Guido tosses Taylor to the floor where Sal sends Taylor into the guard railing shoulder first. Sal misses a running splash hitting the railing. Guido works over Taylor with strikes. Taylor plants Guido with a bulldog for a two count. Taylor backdrops Guido and heads to the top rope, but Guido powerbombs Taylor to the mat. Guido spikes Taylor with the Un-Prettier for the win. (**1/4. A fine sprint of a match between these two. Guido is an underrated talent and I hope he continues to get some shine in a singles role. Taylor is the same guy from the GWF days so that’s kind of cool to see a random guy appear on ECW television.)

3.) They show the Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu match from ECW Guilty As Charged.

4.) Diamond controls Kash with a wrist lock, but Kash quickly counters with a headlock. Diamond arm drags Kash to gain the advantage. Kash returns with arm drags of his own causing Diamond to bail to the floor to regroup. Kash springboards off the middle rope onto Diamond and Mitch. Mitch prevents Kash from returning to the ring and gets shoved away. Diamond is in the corner wanting a timeout, but Kash delivers a few strikes. Diamond counters a head scissors by driving Kash down to the mat face first. Diamond clotheslines Kash for a two count. Diamond takes Kash over with a snap suplex, but Kash blocks another suplex with right hands. Kash ducks a clothesline in the corner and plants Diamond with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Jazz is at ringside now, too. Mitch distracts the referee causing Jazz to yank Mitch off the apron. Diamond tries for a move on Kash, but Jazz gets involved with the Jazz Stinger and Kash manages to pin Diamond. (*1/2. Is the main focus here a feud between Diamond and Jazz? I’m thinking so. I tend to really enjoy Kash in ECW and he wasn’t really setup here to perform his high risk moves by any means. I want to see Kash working guys more his style and tearing it up in the ring.)

5) Awesome shoulder blocks Tanaka to star the match followed by an overhead belly to belly suplex. Tanaka hits a snap powerslam to gain control of the match. Awesome connects with a springboard back elbow, but gets knocked off the apron. Tanaka leaps off the top to take Awesome out with a crossbody on the floor. Tanaka sends Awesome into the guard railing and is met with a big boot. Tanaka is sent over the railing into the crowd and Awesome jumps over onto Tanaka with a leaping clothesline. Awesome nails Tanaka with a chair shot over the head and jabs Tanaka several times. Awesome hits a running chair shot and a release German suplex. Tanaka pops up and runs into a sit out spinebuster for a two count. Awesome clotheslines Tanaka coming off the ropes and taunts the crowd. Awesome sets a table up on the floor. Awesome clotheslines Tanaka and signals for the table. Awesome tries for a powerbomb, but Tanaka breaks free and springboard clotheslines Awesome on the apron. Awesome kicks Tanaka on the apron and tries for another powerbomb, but Tanaka stops Awesome and hits a tornado DDT off the apron through the table on the floor. The show goes to commercial…

Tanaka tries for a tornado DDT, but Awesome plants Tanaka with a sit out spinebuster onto a chair. Awesome tries for a chair shot off the top, but Tanaka dropkicks Awesome. Tanaka plants Awesome with a tornado DDT onto a chair for a near fall. Tanaka tries for the diamond dust, but Awesome counters with a double leg slam. Awesome ducks a roaring elbow and powerbombs Tanaka for a near fall. Awesome heads to the top rope hitting a frog splash for another near fall. Awesome grabs another table from under the ring. Awesome sets the table up in the ring, but Tanaka escapes a powerbomb with a roaring elbow strike. Awesome stops Tanaka on the top rope and hits a sit out powerbomb off the top through the table! Awesome covers and retains the title. (***1/2. Another fantastic TV match between these two. I don’t think they have ever not delivered a great match.)

6.) Paul E. Dangerously cuts a promo assuring the fans that the revolution has just begun despite injuries and whatnot in ECW.

Final Thoughts:
A good episode that focused mostly on in-ring action which I’m perfectly fine with. This was a breeze of an episode.

Thanks for reading.