ECW Hardcore TV 7/16/2000

Extreme Championship Wrestling presents Hardcore TV
Date: 7/16/2000
From: Poughkeepsie, NY

Matches:
1.) Johnny Swinger & Simon Diamond defeated Prodigy & Prodigette
2.) CW Anderson defeated Kid Kash
3.) Chilly Willy, Nova & Chris Chetti defeated Little Guido, Big Sal & Tony Mamaluke
4.) ECW Television Champion Rhino defeated Raven to retain the title

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Backstage, Cyrus says that ECW Television Champion Rhino is wrestling a guy that is leaving ECW tonight, Raven. Rhino recalls kicking Raven’s ass the last time they wrestled. Rhino wants Raven to kick his ass and grunts into the camera to end the segment.

2.) Backstage, Francine cuts a promo asking if the fans want to see something extreme and hardcore. Holy shit, ECW World Champion Justin Credible has a swollen face and promotes the Stairway to Hell match against Tommy Dreamer at Heatwave. Credible knows they are both going to get hurt and they are putting their careers on the line. Credible believes it is worth it for the championship. There will be only one man walking out as the champion. That man will be Justin Credible.

3.) In the ring, Simon Diamond cuts a promo saying that he has a problem. Diamond notes that they have been mounting victory after victory. However, they still have some baggage they are carrying around. Diamond turns around to Prodigy and Prodigette. Diamond insults Mitch for not being a good fetcher. Diamond thinks that Prodigette was only worried about showing how big her chest is. Diamond doesn’t think Prodigy can even understand what he’s saying. Diamond calls them their lackeys. Prodigy responds in Spanish, but nobody knows what he said. Diamond doesn’t know either and Prodigette chimes in saying Prodigy said ”F You”.

4.) Prodigy and Prodigette slap Diamond and Swinger knocking them to the floor. Prodigy hits a dive to the floor. Diamond is sent into the guard railing back first. Swinger sends Prodigy into the railing and clotheslines Prodigette from the apron to help Diamond. Prodigette is driven down with a double flatliner, but Swinger pulls her up on the cover attempt. Diamond keeps control with strikes in the corner. Prodigette responds with chops, but Diamond delivers a side Russian leg sweep. Prodigette is met with a double shoulder block, but delivers a double low blow. Prodigy enters the match and cleans house with clotheslines. Prodigy backdrops Diamond and delivers a powerslam for a two count. Prodigy tosses Diamond with an overhead suplex. Prodigette tags in and hits a moonsault off the top for a near fall as Swinger makes the save. Prodigy is dumped to the floor by Swinger. Diamond sends Prodigette into Prodigy leading to the Problem Solver for the win. (*1/4. There was never a doubt here, but I like that Swinger and Diamond were given a clean win.)

5.) Outside, Sinister Minister and Mikey Whipwreck are on a boat in the parking lot. Minister sings a song to the tune of Gilligan Island. He’s promoting Heatwave 2000. Minister says that Lynn’s lines got all burned up when Whipwreck asks about him.

6.) Backstage, Guido, Mamaluke and Big Sal promote their match against Nova, Chetti and Willy. Sal is going to eat them like the first nine plates at a buffet. Mamaluke appears to have been accepted into the FBI after a few weeks.

7.) Electra slaps Kash to allow Anderson to get the early advantage with strikes. Kash fights back, but is met with a shoulder block. Anderson rams Kash into the corner but misses a running attack. Kash head scissors Anderson and delivers a few chops against the ropes. Kash hits a springboard sunset flip for a two count. Kash arm drags Anderson and dropkicks Anderson through the ropes to the floor. Kash takes Anderson out with a dive to the floor. Kash hits a springboard clothesline into the ring for a near fall. Kash ducks a clothesline and tries for a victory roll, but Anderson counters with a wheelbarrow suplex onto a chair. Anderson drives Kash down with a backbreaker for a two count. Kash chops Anderson a few times, but a left hand drops Kash and Anderson manages a two count. Anderson counters a double springboard crossbody with a powerslam for a two count. Anderson overhand chops Kash in the corner to keep control of the contest. Kash hits a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Anderson nails Kash with a superkick for a near fall. Anderson sits Kash on the top turnbuckle and taunts the crowd before trying for a suplex. Kash shoves Anderson to the mat and hits a leaping hurricanrana. Kash clotheslines Anderson followed by a chop. Kash nails Anderson with a spinning heel kick and Anderson rolls to the floor. Swinger and Diamond are at ringside. Electra is on the apron to distract Kash. Kash kicks Electra and takes the guys out with a somersault dive to the floor! Swinger and Diamond work over Kash with strikes, but Kash knocks them away. Kash tries for a sunset flip, but Anderson drops to his knees and holds the ropes to pin Kash and end his undefeated streak. After the match, Kash is triple teamed until Doring and Roadkill slide into the ring and make the save to end the segment. (**1/4. It’s a fine match and they worked rather well together. The crowd didn’t seem to be all that invested in it and I wonder if it’s because Anderson hasn’t had much steam in a singles role. The finish is a little lame way to end Kash’s undefeated streak. It’s a good win for Anderson and the interference protects Kash a little bit.)

8.) Backstage, Gary Wolfe is in the bathroom and says he’s back. Wolfe admits that Rhino kicked his ass, but he liked it. Wolfe likes violence because it turns him on. Blue Meanie is in the stall with Jasmine St. Claire and it’s suggested they were doing something in there. Meanie corrects Wolfe and says he’s Blue Boy. Boy insults Wolfe saying that he’s gained some weight. Boy wonders if Wolfe has lost his motivation and pride. Wolfe calls St. Claire a whore and gets in Boy’s face. Wolfe asks if Boy knows who he is messing with. Wolfe shoves Boy into the stall until St. Claire does an awkward low blow from behind. St. Claire says she thinks she’ll need a shot since she touched him. Wolfe is left holding his groin to end the segment.

9.) Guido and Chetti start the six man tag with Guido hammering away on Chetti with strikes. Chetti counters with chops of his own against the ropes. Chetti shoulder blocks Guido and tries for a go-behind, but Guido elbows free. Chetti comes off the ropes with a scissors kick. Chetti clotheslines Guido coming off the ropes and tags in Nova to keep control of the contest. Nova nails Guido with a heel kick to send Guido stumbling into the corner. Guido tags in Mamaluke and Mamaluke gets a nice rollup for a two count. Mamaluke head scissors Nova and tries for body scissors, but is dropped over the top and driven down to the mat. Sal tags in to try his luck against Nova. Sal shoulder blocks Nova coming off the ropes, but Nova tags in Chilly. Big Sal grabs a microphone and says the fans want to see him dance. Sal proceeds to dance a little bit and the crowd responds positively. Chilly gets some dancing in, as well. However, Sal decks Willy from behind to gain control of the contest. Willy elbows Sal in the corner followed by right hands. Sal is double teamed by Nova and Chetti with axe handles. Mamaluke and Guido are both hip tossed.

Nova and Chetti hit dives on opposite sides of the ring onto Mamaluke and Guido. Willy is splashed by Sal in the corner. Sal delivers a running butt splash to Willy in the corner. Guido chops Willy and goes to the middle rope hitting a dropkick for a two count. Mamaluke chops Willy against the ropes to keep control of the bout. Mamaluke hits a springboard tornado DDT on Willy for a two count. Willy elbows free and tosses Mamaluke into the air. Sal tags back into the match, but Willy battles back with right hands. Willy tries for a slam, but Sal lands on top. Sal slams Willy to the mat and goes to the middle rope looking for a splash. Willy manages to move out of the way. Chetti and Guido are tagged in with Chetti cleaning house. Chetti backdrops Guido and side kicks Mamaluke. Chetti plants Guido with a sit out slam for a two count. Nova decks Mamaluke to the apron. Sal is decked to the mat by Nova and Chetti. Guido is driven down with a double bulldog. Sal is sent onto Guido with a drop toe hold. Willy powerbombs Mamaluke and is met with Tidal Wave leading to the three count. (**1/2. I thought this was a solid six man tag match with constant action and it held my interest. Mamaluke continues to standout in his performances and is quickly becoming one of the better in-ring guys the company has. The undercard for ECW continues to be providing unexpected quality matches.)

10.) Backstage, Bill Alfonso and Rob Van Dam cut a promo about Heatwave. RVD will be revealing a new move that he will use on Scotty Anton. RVD is going to introduce the Van Terminator.

11.) Rhino shoulder blocks Raven to start the main event. Raven dumps Rhino through the ropes to the floor. Rhino returns to the ring and is met with a right hand. Raven continues with right hands and punches Rhino a few more times in the corner. Rhino boots Raven in the corner, but misses a GORE attempt. Rhino low blows Raven and keeps control with a neck vice on the mat. Raven tries for a backslide managing a two count. Rhino nails Raven with a clothesline for a near fall. Rhino plants Raven with a running powerslam for a two count. Raven plants Rhino with a DDT for a near fall. Raven collides with Cyrus on the apron and Rhino hits the GORE to win the match and retain the title. (*. It’s a really short match and a disappointing one because I believe this is Raven’s final ECW match. At least he left while putting over Rhino in the process, but a dominate clean win for Rhino would have been a better thing to do.)

Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed the episode this week with the undercard doing well with the time being used well. Raven’s run in ECW this time around has to be seen as a disappointment overall, but finishing off putting over Rhino in any fashion was the right business call. Heatwave has been promoted well and is a PPV I’d probably find myself purchasing.

Thanks for reading.