Extreme Championship Wrestling House Show
Date: 4/30/1999
From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
NOTE: There is a match between Jerry Lynn and Justin Credible that aired on the May 8th episode of Hardcore TV. A review of that match can be found HERE.
The show starts with ECW World Champion Taz in the ring cutting a promo on a guy who is producing the TV program. The TV guy has a bit of attitude about TV cues and gets decked by Taz with the ECW World Championship. Taz slaps the TV guy while talking about Chris Candido. It’s interesting because I believe one match is shown on TV along with this segment.
Opening Contest: Tajiri vs. Little Guido: Guido starts off with a few quick strikes to back Tajiri into a corner, but Tajiri responds with a wild kick to send Guido bailing to the floor. Guido takes Tajiri down to the mat and mounts Tajiri with strikes. Tajiri rolls over and mounts Guido’s back to deliver strikes to the back. Tajiri puts a body scissors on Guido and Guido bails to the floor. Tajiri leg sweeps Guido to the mat and rolls on the mat while locking Guido’s leg to deliver a couple of slams. Guido bails to the floor to regroup again. Tajiri kicks Guido upon returning to the ring and Guido trades chops with Tajiri several times. Guido stomps Tajiri in the corner several times. Tajiri kicks Guido several times into the corner to drop Guido to the mat. Tajiri overhand strikes Guido in the corner and tries for a springboard crossbody, but Guido counters with an arm bar. Tajiri reaches the ropes to break the hold. Guido leaps off the top to dropkick Tajiri on the arm followed by a slingshot crossbody to the floor. Tajiri nails Guido with a handspring back elbow to knock Guido to the floor. Tajiri puts Guido over the railing gut first. Tajiri returns to the ring and plays to the crowd. Tajiri stomps Guido on the mat and locks in an abdominal stretch. Tajiri locks in the tarantula, but can’t legally win the match.
Tajiri tries for a powerbomb, but settles for a slap and a German suplex. Guido counters with an arm bar and tries to get a submission, but Tajiri doesn’t give in. Guido sends Tajiri to the floor. Big Sal sends Tajiri into the railing back first. Tajiri spits at Sal as Guido stomps Tajiri on the mat. Guido backs Tajiri into a corner and delivers a strike. Tajiri nails Guido with a savant kick in the corner followed by a head scissors. Guido powerbombs Tajiri and locks in an arm bar, but doesn’t get a submission. Guido grabs Tajiri and ducks a strike. Tajiri kicks Guido on the thigh to regain momentum. Tajiri delivers a back suplex for a two count. Tajiri is bleeding from the right eye. Guido takes Tajiri down with a cross arm bar, but Tajiri reaches the ropes. Guido and Tajiri trade holds for a moment until Tajiri gets Guido on his back and spins around before dropping Guido to the mat. Tajiri dropkicks a kneeling Guido. Tajiri puts Guido in the tree of woe. Tajiri baseball slides Guido upside down in the corner. Tajiri kicks Sal several times off the apron. Tajiri spikes Guido with a brainbuster to win the match. (**1/2. A solid opening bout to the show. Tajiri has managed to get over quickly with the ECW crowd and there’s no denying his talent. They didn’t do all the spots they’ve been known to do, but there’s no need to do it as they still put on a fun opener to the show.)
Second Contest: Super Crazy vs. Mosco de la Merced: Crazy and Merced trade wrist locks and pin attempts in the opening moments of the match. Crazy chops Merced and delivers a shoulder block. Crazy hip tosses Merced and they trade arm drags leading to a standoff. Merced chops Crazy to the mat and continues with another chop. Merced delivers a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Merced heads to the top rope hitting a hurricanrana to send Crazy to the floor. Merced fakes a dive to the outside and misses a springboard moonsault crashing to the floor. Crazy somersaults over the referee to take Merced out with a dive on the floor. Crazy sends Merced into the ring post face first to maintain the advantage. Crazy rams Merced face first onto the apron. Merced chops Crazy and hits a top rope crossbody followed by a spinning heel kick to send Crazy to the floor. Merced misses another dive and is chopped by Crazy. Crazy moonsaults off the stage to take Merced out on the floor. Merced sends Crazy into the railing back first. Merced takes Crazy out with a somersault dive to the floor. Merced plays to the crowd. Merced decks Crazy on the floor and rolls Crazy back into the ring. Merced chops Crazy in the corner several times, but misses a splash attempt. Crazy slams Merced in the corner and hits a series of moonsaults, but misses the third one. Merced climbs to the top nailing Crazy with a missile dropkick. Merced nails Crazy with a second missile dropkick for a two count. Merced slams Crazy and hits a corkscrew splash off the top for a near fall. Crazy plants Merced with a DDT and chops Merced in the corner. Crazy catapults Merced and locks in Boston Crab, but doesn’t get a submission. Crazy moonsaults Merced for the win. (**1/2. Similar to the first match it had some decent action, but it felt like they were holding back. I still enjoyed the action and there’s nothing wrong with holding back while still managing to put forth a good match.)
Third Contest: Lance Storm vs. Nova: Storm works over Nova with a wrist lock to start, but Nova counters quickly until Storm backs Nova into a corner. Nova avoids a right hand and stomps Storm. Storm kicks Nova and elbows Nova into the ropes. Nova backdrops Storm coming off the ropes. Storm sends Nova into the corner, but Nova comes out with a bulldog and dropkicks Storm to the floor. Nova fakes a dive to the floor, but Storm pulls Nova to the floor anyway. They trade a few strikes. Nova sends Storm into the railing back first. Nova pump kicks Storm against the railing. Nova remains on the apron, but Storm throws Nova off the apron and chest first into the railing. Storm rolls Nova back into the ring and keeps control with strikes. Nova stops Storm with a jawbreaker and a clothesline. Nova runs into a superkick by Storm for a near fall. Storm rams Nova into the corner and delivers a few chops. Storm handspring splashes Nova in the corner. Storm takes Nova down and locks in a half Boston Crab. Nova gets up and kicks Storm on the side of the head. Nova fires back on Storm with right hands. Nova powerbombs Storm with an elbow drop on the way down for a tow count. Nova blocks a kick and elbows Storm. Nova plants Storm with a reverse DDT a couple of times leading to a near fall. Nova sits Storm on the top turnbuckle, but is shoved off by Storm. Storm nails Nova with a spinning heel kick off the top rope to win the match. (**. Considering Storm’s involved in a top angle it wasn’t much of a surprise here. They still had a decent match and Nova got some shine. I think Nova needs to ditch the superhero attire to be taken more seriously, though.)
Fourth Contest: New Jack vs. Mustafa: As expected, this is going to be the typical ECW hardcore brawl kind of match as the former partners collide once again. It didn’t take long for Jack to be busted open, but managed to use plenty of weapons on Mustafa. They fight onto the stage where Jack sends Mustafa into a few empty chairs. Eventually, Jack avoids a middle rope splash and comes off the top to hit Mustafa with a trash can to win the match. (NR. Jack has a purpose on the show and that is do the hardcore stuff that he does and bleed since the fans want blood. However, he’s not going to have good matches.)
Fifth Contest: Balls Mahoney vs. Rod Price: Price works over Mahoney to start the match, but Mahoney fights back with jabs and drops Price to the mat. Mahoney continues with a right hand, but Price elbows Mahoney through the ropes to the floor. Mahoney is sent into the railing back first a couple of times. Price whacks Mahoney over the head with a chair shot. Mahoney fights back with right hands and sends Price into the railing. Mahoney tosses Price over the railing into the crowd. Mahoney nails Price with a drink to the face. They brawl into the bleachers as the fans are going nuts for the action right in front of them. The brawling in the crowd takes place for an extended period of time. Mahoney plants Price with a DDT as they are back in the ring. Mahoney slides a table into the ring. Mahoney punches Price onto the table and heads to the top rope. Mahoney is stopped by Price and Price superplexs Mahoney off the top through the table. Price goes for a cover, but Mahoney kicks out at two. Price argues with the referee. Vito gets in the ring and leaps off the top to elbow drop Mahoney as the referee is distracted. Vito runs backstage as the referee isn’t aware of any of it. Price covers Mahoney for another near fall. Price leaps off the ropes with a chair, but Mahoney superkicks the chair into Rod’s face. Mahoney smashes Price over the head with a chair shot to win the match. (*. A similar style of match as New Jack and it quenches the fans thirst for simple violence and blood.)
Before the next match there’s an extended trash talking portion between the Dudley Boys and the team of Doring and Roadkill. It’s a house show and I don’t think it’s going to mean much of anything.
Sixth Contest: ECW Tag Team Champions Dudley Boys vs. Danny Doring & Roadkill: Doring and Roadkill go on the attack with Doring and D-Von going to the floor to brawl. Roadkill splashes Bubba in the corner as Doring sends D-Von into the railing a couple of times. Roadkill and D-Von are now in the ring while Bubba sends Doring into the railing back first. Bubba chops Doring against the railing. D-Von and Roadkill are trading strikes in the ring until Roadkill delivers a delayed vertical suplex. Roadkill strikes D-Von and tags in Doring. Roadkill decks D-Von with a clothesline and Doring comes off the ropes to deliver an elbow drop. Doring strikes D-Von a few times, but D-Von fights back with a few strikes. Doring kicks D-Von into the corner and Bubba enters, but is met with a drop toe hold. Doring kicks Bubba in the corner a few times followed by a running dropkick. Doring pummels Bubba in the corner with right hands, but Bubba plants Doring with a powerbomb out of the corner. Bubba delivers an elbow drop onto Doring to maintain the advantage. Bubba overhand strikes Doring on the mat. Bubba taunts Roadkill on the apron and slams Doring to the mat. Bubba overhand chops Doring in the corner before tagging in D-Von. Doring ducks a clothesline, but not a second one by D-Von for a two count. D-Von decks Roadkill on the apron and takes Doring over with a snap suplex.
Bubba tags into the match and strikes Doring in the ribs followed by a headbutt. D-Von tags into the match and Bubba slams Doring. D-Von leaps off the middle rope to hit a diving headbutt to Doring’s groin. Bubba nails Roadkill off the apron. Bubba elbow drops Doring and D-Von does the same. Doring strikes D-Von a few times, but D-Von eye rakes Doring into the corner. D-Von chokes Doring in the corner to keep the advantage. D-Von sends Doring into the corner, but runs into a boot. D-Von catches Doring coming off the ropes to deliver a powerslam for a near fall. Bubba has Doring on his shoulders and D-Von leaps off the top to clothesline Doring to the mat. Bubba taunts the fans. Bubba headbutts Doring to the mat followed by an elbow drop for a two count. Doring sunset flips Bubba, but Bubba doesn’t go down and misses a splash attempt. Bubba flapjacks Doring to the mat gut first. Bubba steps on Doring and continues to taunt the fans. Bubba slaps Doring against the ropes and drives Doring into the corner to deliver several overhand strikes. Bubba dropkicks Doring in the corner followed by a headbutt to the groin.
Doring fights back with right hands. Bubba rams Doring into the corner and tags in D-Von to choke Doring. D-Von pummels Doring with right hands against the ropes. Doring spikes D-Von with a double arm DDT. Doring tags in Roadkill who cleans house with clotheslines. Roadkill side slams D-Von to the mat. Roadkill takes Bubba over with a suplex. Roadkill stomps D-Von and Doring pummels Bubba in the opposite corner. Bubba and D-Von are sent into each other as Doring hits the Hart Attack on D-Von for a two count. Roadkill slams Bubba and goes to the top rope to clothesline Bubba. Doring hits a top rope leg drop for a near fall on Bubba. Doring delivers a jawbreaker to D-Von as Roadkill works over Bubba. Doring drives D-Von over his knee chest first and struts. Sign Guy whacks Doring from the apron. Roadkill slams Bubba and heads to the top rope missing a splash. Dudley’s hit the 3D on Roadkill to win the match. (**1/2. A solid tag match that got plenty of time to develop. Obviously the Dudley’s are leaving ECW by the late summer, but if they stuck around into 2000 I think these two teams could have had some meaningful tag matches since Doring and Roadkill became the top team for ECW towards the end.)
I’m not joking when I say there’s an extended segment of talking between Corino, Dreamer, Francine and Dawn Marie. I believe it goes well over fifteen minutes. These shows I’m covering the action since none of the non-wrestling segments play any part in the actual storylines nor were they shown on television anyway.
Seventh Contest: Tommy Dreamer vs. Steve Corino: Corino gets frustrated in a waist lock and quickly goes to the ropes. Corino complains that Dreamer held his tights, which didn’t happen. Francine is on the apron showing her ass off to the crowd. Dreamer puts a hammerlock on Corino and takes Corino down with a fireman carry. Corino quickly goes to the ropes to avoid further offense. Dreamer cuts a promo about hating wrestling and wanting some action. Corino stalls on the floor. Corino tries for a shoulder block, but is knocked down. Corino chops Dreamer, but Dreamer hip tosses and scoop slams Corino. Corino is yanked down to the mat by his hair and complains about a hair pull. Corino wants Dreamer to get on the mat for mat wrestling. This is remarkable how much they are stalling and doing basically nothing. Dreamer grabs a WCW replica belt that one of the fans has in the crowd. Dreamer kicks Corino in the ribs and catches Corino on a crossbody attempt. Dreamer hits a fallaway slam. Corino strikes Dreamer in the corner to gain the advantage. Corino chops Dreamer in the corner, but is knocked down by a strike. Dreamer chops Corino several times in the corner. Dreamer struts to taunt the fans. Dreamer grabs the replica title and does a Flair flop before tossing the belt back to the floor. Corino baseball slides Dreamer into the railing. Corino strikes Dreamer on the floor and fakes sending Dreamer into the railing and instead sends Dreamer into the ring. Dreamer baseball slides Corino into the railing. Dreamer tosses Corino over the railing into the crowd.
Dreamer brings Corino up the rafters to continue the brawling. Dreamer sends Corino into the railing and they work back into the ring. Dreamer drop toe holds Corino and elbow drops Corino. Dreamer punches Corino several times and decks Corino to the mat. Dreamer comes off the ropes to deliver a knee drop. Dreamer spikes Corino with a piledriver for a two count. Dreamer puts a Sting mask on and leaps off the middle rope missing an elbow drop and lands on a steel chair. Corino punches Dreamer on the groin. Corino chokes Dreamer over the top rope. Dreamer grabs Corino by the balls, but Corino eye rakes Dreamer. Corino heel kicks Dreamer and plays to the crowd. Corino chokes Dreamer over the middle rope and misses another splash over the middle rope. Dreamer elbow drops Corino from the middle rope. Dreamer tries for a slam, but Corino counters by yanking Dreamer down to the mat. Corino decides against using a steel chair and sits down on the chair put to a chin lock on Dreamer. Dreamer fights free and rams Corino face first onto the chair. Dreamer clotheslines himself and Corino to the floor. Dreamer rams Corino into the stage. Dreamer sends Corino into the railing.
Dreamer slides a steel chair into the ring and is tripped by someone. Corino delivers a swinging neckbreaker onto the chair. Corino chokes Dreamer over the bottom rope. Corino forearms Dreamer on the mat. Corino elbow strikes Dreamer coming off the ropes for a two count. Corin grabs a ladder to bring to the ring, but likely not use anyway. Dreamer baseball slides the ladder into Corino. Francine spears the guy helping Corino (not sure who he is) after Dreamer sent him into a ladder. Francine bronco busters the guy in the corner. Corino superkicks Dreamer and shoves Francine to the mat. Francine low blows Corino in the corner and Dreamer drops Corino face first onto the ladder in the corner. Dreamer delivers a DDT and pins Corino. (DUD. I’m not exaggerating when I say that was one of the most boring matches I’ve watched on an ECW house show. The comedy attempt by Dreamer didn’t do anything for me and the constant stalling completely killed my interest in the match. I think in total this whole thing went around a half hour and there was no need to do it for that long.)
Main Event: ECW Television Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Spike Dudley: Dudley gets a headlock on RVD and goes for a quick rollup for a two count. RVD backs Dudley into a corner and delivers a few boots before backing off and taunting Dudley. Dudley low blows RVD and tries for the Acid Drop, but is dropped over the top rope groin first. RVD knocks Dudley off the ropes to the floor. RVD misses a baseball slide attempt and Dudley pummels RVD before grabbing Alfonso. Dudley sends RVD into the railing, but is met with a spin kick. RVD sends Dudley into the railing back first to keep control of the bout. RVD kicks Dudley in the ribs and delivers another strike. RVD sends Spike hard into the railing again. RVD drops Dudley over the railing chest first. RVD leg drops Dudley over the railing. RVD leaps off the railing to kick a chair into Dudley’s face in the crowd. RVD rams Dudley into the apron and leg drops Dudley over the apron. RVD tries for a slam, but Dudley counters with a rollup. RVD breaks free and kicks Dudley on the mat. RVD puts a surfboard on Dudley, but doesn’t get a submission. RVD leans backward and puts Dudley’s shoulders on the mat for a near fall. Alfonso enters with a chair and RVD catapults Dudley onto the chair back first. RVD goes for a cover, but Dudley kicks out at two.
RVD forearms Dudley into the ropes and sits Dudley on the top turnbuckle. RVD grabs Dudley for a suplex, but Spike fights free and plants RVD onto the chair with a tornado DDT. Spike tries for a sunset flip, but only manages a two count. Dudley knee drops RVD face first onto a chair for a near fall. Spike comes off the ropes with a forearm smash for a two count. Spike sends RVD to the floor with a head scissors. Spike gains footing on the apron and nails RVD with a somersault dive knocking RVD into the railing. Dudley drops RVD chest first over the railing with a modified Acid Drop. Spike whacks RVD with a chair shot over the back before returning to the ring. RVD runs into a boot in the corner. Spike head scissors RVD from the middle rope for a two count. Dudley heads to the top rope, but RVD pump kicks Spike. RVD goes to the middle rope, but tosses Spike away. Spike avoids a spin kick and low blows RVD. RVD counters the Acid Drop and drops Spike onto a chair. RVD hits the rolling thunder. RVD crotches Dudley onto the ropes. RVD nails Spike with a kick sending the chair into Spike’s face. RVD leaps off the top to hit a frog splash for the win. (***. Spike put up a good fight and RVD can bring out a good match out of just about anyone. Certainly not a classic, but a much better match than the previous one and I’m not leaving the show annoyed that’s for sure.)
Final Thoughts:
There’s some decent action on here, but that Dreamer/Corino extended segment is still something that bugs me. I’ll consider this an average show and if you skip the Dreamer/Corino nonsense it’s leaning towards a thumbs up.
Thanks for reading.