The History of the ECW World Title

-This is a six DVD set chronicling the history of the original ECW world title, so no WWECW stuff here.

-DISC ONE:

-NWA World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Final: ECW Champion Shane Douglas VS 2 Cold Scorpio [8/26/94]

-Chain wrestling to start. Scorpio slides out of a submission, and gets a near-fall. Scorpio gets another rollup for two. Douglas backs Scorpio into a corner and bitch slaps him. A second slap is repaid, and Scorpio hits a flipping leg drop for two. They fight over a small package, both getting a couple two counts. Douglas slugs Scorpio down, then sets him up for a superplex. Scorpio blocks and dumps Douglas before hitting a flying cross-body for two.

Douglas counters a rear chinlock with a belly-to-back suplex. Douglas applies a half-assed camel clutch. Scorpio powers out, hitting an electric chair drop in the process. Douglas begs off, but it doesn't work. Scorpio hits a flying clothesline and a slingshot splash for two. Match spills outside. Scorpio whips Douglas into the guardrail, and they brawl in the crowd. Douglas drops Scorpio ribs-first on the guardrail. Douglas suplexes Scorpio off the apron back into the ring, then stops to showboat before getting a two count.

Douglas misses a cross-body. Scorpio hits a sloppy tombstone, but misses a moonsault. Douglas finishes with the belly-to-belly suplex. Match had absolutely no flow to it whatsoever, and nothing in the way of heat either.

-Scorpio promises to "be on your ass" to Douglas for the title. If you know much about ECW, you know what happens next. Douglas runs through the list of past NWA world champions and accepts the title, before throwing it down, and declaring himself the ECW World Heavyweight Champion. Crowd chants "ECW", then "Flair is Dead".

-Dennis Caraluzzo reacts to Shane Douglas' throwing down the belt.

-Todd Gordon announces the folding of NWA: Eastern Championship Wrestling, and the creation of Extreme Championship Wrestling.

-Shane Douglas [c] VS The Sandman (w/Woman)

-Joey can't wrap his head around Sandman possibly being a world heavyweight champion. Joey notes that Shane Douglas has forced Todd Gordon to ban the Singapore cane from this match. Douglas gets the early jump, and hits a delayed vertical suplex, and a rolling neck snap.

Match is clipped to Sandman having Douglas locked in a cross-face chicken wing (!). Sandman demands the Woman slap Shane, but she refuses to do so. Sandman hits a shoulder breaker. Match is clipped to Sandman hitting a legdrop from the top, and telling Woman to get the cane. Match is clipped again to Sandman hitting his awkward piledriver, then lighting up a premature victory cigarette. Woman throws the cane to Douglas, who hits Sandman in the leg, and gets a small package for the pin to retain.

-Douglas & Woman celebrate after the match. Sandman mournfully smokes a cigarette. Match was bad enough clipped, I can't imagine how bad it was in full.

-Sandman promo. He talks about Woman encouraging him to beat his wife on television, but now Sandman is going to beat her, after he beats Shane.

-Douglas responds, at one point threatening to fist Sandman. Don't think he meant to do that.

-Shane Douglas [c] (w/Woman) VS Sandman (4/15/95)

-Sandman catches Shane getting into the ring, but whiffs on a cane shot, and Douglas hits a dropkick to turn the tide. Douglas hits a snap suplex, a DDT, and an elbow drop for a one count. Douglas keeps control of the match, hitting a springboard splash for another one count. Sandman pitches Douglas outside, then uses his leg to drive Douglas' head into the ring apron. Don't think I've seen that before. Woman distracts Sandman, which allows Douglas to get Sandman in the electric chair and drop him on the guardrail.

Sandman goes after Woman, stopping to punch an interfering Douglas and throw him off the apron into the guardrail. Sandman adds a chairshot to the back, then goes back to stalking Woman. Douglas cuts him off again, but Sandman blocks a suplex on the floor, and hits Douglas with a gourd buster on the floor. Sandman misses a top rope legdrop. Douglas hits a really shitty back breaker (I'm blaming Sandman for that), then adds a dropkick.

Sandman accidentally shoulders the ring post, and Douglas locks on the cross-face chicken wing. Woman whacks DOUGLAS on the knee with the cane, causing him to fall backwards with Sandman on top, and Sandman gets the pin and the title. Match was better than what was shown of the first one. Not sure I buy the whole thing being a plot between Sandman and Woman.

-Douglas gets pissy, putting on a Monday Night Raw t-shirt, then symbolically leaving the ECW Arena.

-Barbed Wire Match: Sandman [c] VS Cactus Jack

-Crowd loves Cactus' Bruiser Brody/Stan Hansen t-shirt. Odd seeing Sandman go out of his way to avoid the barbed wire. Lots of stalling by Sandman. Cactus is the first to meet the wire. Sandman drops Cactus on the barbed wire ropes, pretty much breaking them. Sandman leaps over the sagging wire to attack Cactus. Sandman wraps Cactus in the wire, then drops a leg to the back of his head.

Sandman digs the wire into Cactus' arm, then hits a suplex for two. Sandman finally meets the wire. In a cute spot, Cactus pulls Sandman's shirt over his head and punches him, causing Sandman to blindly stumble into the wire. Cactus pitches Sandman outside, then hits an unprotected chairshot to the head. Sandman digs the wire into Cactus' forhead. Cactus avoids a chairshot, and does the same to Sandman. Sandman tries to wrap wire around Cactus' throat, so Cactus responds by raking Sandman's face with a cheese grater.

Sandman hits a low blow, then follows up by crotching Cactus on the wire. Sandman hits a punch for two. Cactus comes back with a DDT on a chair for two. Cactus puts a chair across Sandman's face, and drops a leg. Cactus finds the barbed wire spool under the ring, and throws it inside. Sandman throws Cactus onto the wire spool, then drops an elbow and a leg to drive him into it. That gets two. Sandman misses an elbow drop, and hits the spool.

Jack gets a pair of wire cutters, and hits Sandman in the head with them, before cutting off a large section of the wire to wrap it around his arm. Cactus whips Sandman with the wire. Cactus pitches Sandman to the floor, and follows with the Cactus elbow off the apron, using the elbow that's wrapped in the wire. Sandman takes three unprotected chairshots to the head. Sandman is counted down, and Cactus is declared the winner and new champion, but Evil Referee Bill Alfonso enters, stating that the title cannot change hands that way. The referees look like they're going to fight, and Sandman uses the distraction to wrap barbed wire around Cactus' throat and nearly chokes him out before throwing him through the wire to the outside, as the crowd chants "bullshit".

Fonzie calls for the bell, and stops the match because he says Cactus cannot continue. Todd Gordon confronts Fonzie, who clotheslines Gordon. Crowd is not happy with the finish. Match was mainly a horror show with a little bit of wrestling mixed in. The screw job finish was at least a little interesting, as Fonzie made for a great weasel.

-Sandman [c] (w/Woman) VS Cactus Jack [Special Guest Referee: Shane Douglas]

-Douglas dons striped tights instead of a striped shirt. Douglas actually tries to enforce rules. Cactus hits a series of forearms, then throws Sandman outside. Cactus hits Sandman with a garbage can, then an unprotected chairshot to the head. Douglas prevents a second chairshot, and Sandman takes the opportunity to hit Cactus in the back of the head with the garbage can. Douglas prevents Sandman from using the Singapore cane.

Cactus takes Sandman down and hits a series of rapid punches before dropping a leg for two. They go back outside, and Sandman hits some punches. Back in, Sandman hits a back elbow, and Douglas checks for blood. Woman takes the opportunity to choke Cactus with the cane, and Sandman hits a suplex. Woman keeps interfering, and Douglas catches her on the third try, then ejects her from ringside.

Douglas has to physically walk Woman to the back, and Sandman & Cactus take the opportunity to brawl outside the ring. Sandman hits a low blow, but Shane conveniently is looking away. Cactus hits a swinging neck breaker, and Douglas slow counts him. Cactus hits a piledriver, and again Shane slow counts. Cactus hits a double-arm DDT, and gets a third slow count. Cactus hits his rapid forearms in the corner and won't let Sandman out, so Douglas DQ's him. Match was elevated by the psychology of Sandman & Cactus wanting to brawl, but Douglas not letting them. Finish was weak, even if it did fit the angle.

-Sandman [c] (w/Woman) VS Mikey Whipwreck [Ladder Match] (10/28/95)

-Not a traditional ladder match where you have to climb the ladder and grab the belt to win, but rather a regular match featuring a ladder. Pre-match graphic gives the date. Steve Austin interrupts the proceedings to run down both champion and challenger, before declaring that he will one day be ECW champion.

Sandman jumps Mikey as Austin leaves. Austin takes Woman to the back. Mikey cracks Sandman in the face with the ladder. Sandman counters a Rocker Dropper into a powerbomb on the ladder. Sandman slams the ladder on top of Mikey, then almost slips off the apron before delivering a slingshot somersault. Mikey rolls outside, and Sandman throws the ladder at him. Sandman uses the ladder to bridge the ring and the guardrail, before draping Mikey across it and dropping a leg off the apron.

Mikey hits a couple unprotected chairshots to the head, then hits a hurricarana off the apron to the floor. Sandman backdrops Mikey into the crowd. Sandman uses the ladder and the guardrail to make an extreme teeter-totter, before jumping over the ropes and using his contraption to smash Mikey in the face. Sandman misses a slingshot elbow drop, hitting the ladder.

Mikey uses the ladder to crack Sandman in the forehead, busting him open. Mikey hits Sandman with the ladder for a one count. Mikey slams the ladder onto Sandman, and hits a splash off the top for the pin and the title. Match was OK for a Sandman match. Finish was too sudden and a little weak though. Crowd LOVES the decision. Cactus Jack (now a heel) rushes out to congratulate the new champion. Some of the babyfaces come out to keep Cactus away from Mikey, and hoist the new champion on their shoulders. Great feel-good moment if nothing else.

-Video set to Mix Master Robbie's version of "My Way" recaps Sandman's title reign.

-Mikey Whipreck [c] VS Sandman

-Steve Austin jumps Sandman during Sandman's entrance, taking him out with a Stun Gun on the guardrail, changing the match into...

-Mikey Whipwreck [c] VS Steve Austin [November to Remember '95]

-Joey gives Mikey no chance here. Austin tells Mikey to leave the ring while Joel Gertner announces Austin's name. Mikey refuses, so Austin jumps him. Austin decimates Mikey. Crowd chants "Hogan" at Austin, who responds by hitting a big boot and legdrop for two. Mikey finally fights back, and Austin begs off, trying to use his torn tricep to gain sympathy. It doesn't work.

Austin hits the Stun Gun...for two. Austin gets PISSED, laying waste to Mikey. Mikey gets a sunset flip and the biggest pull of the tights in wrestling history to get the pin and retain. Austin destroys Mikey after the match.

-DISC TWO:

-Triangle Match: Mikey Whipwreck [c] VS Steve Austin VS Sandman (w/Woman) [12/9/95]

-Mikey & Austin start, with Sandman to enter later. Austin now has the crew cut that he would take with him to the WWF as The Ringmaster. Austin condescendingly pats Mikey on the head in the corner. Mikey answers a slap with one of his own, and Austin offers a handshake, which Mikey accepts. Austin out-wrestles Mikey, then shakes his hand again when Mikey uses the ropes to break a front facelock. Mikey works a side headlock. Austin backs Mikey into a corner and doesn't break clean. Austin methodically works Mikey over.

Mikey tries for the tights-assisted sunset flip, which Austin avoids and goes back to work on Mikey as Sandman enters. Austin focuses on Sandman, and takes a missile dropkick from Mikey as a result. Austin and Mikey spill outside, where Austin whips Mikey into the guardrail, and piledrives him on the floor. Austin waits on Sandman, stopping only to take Mikey out again. Austin flips off the crowd, then does the Hulk Hogan ear-cupping bit to kill time, as Sandman still refuses to get into the ring.

Sandman finally gets in. Slugfest puts both men down. Mikey catches Sandman with a hurricarana, but Austin counters with a powerbomb for two when Mikey tries it on him. Mikey sends Austin into the ropes, where Sandman low-bridges him. Sandman pauses to take a swig from his beer before starting a chop exchange with Austin, that is interupted by a dive from Mikey. Mikey works over both challengers before hitting a double low-blow. Mikey tries a springboard cross-body, but both challengers move, before Austin and Sandman poke each other in the eye.

Mikey comes back with a cross-body on Sandman while kicking Austin, and gets two on Sandman. Austin hits Mikey with a piledriver, knee drop, and the Stung Gun to eliminate him and guarantee a new champion. Austin and Sandman brawl on the outside, complete with requesite unprotected chairshot to Sandman's head. Sandman dumps Austin into the crowd. Sandman hits a short-arm clothesline, then throws the timekeeper's table on top of Austin.

Austin sends Sandman into the table, then adds another chairshot to the head. Austin goes for the Stun Gun on the guardrail, but Sandman uses his hand to block it, injuring his hand/wrist. Sandman uses the guardrail to stand the table up, but Austin sends him through it. Austin works Sandman over. Back in the ring, Austin hits a gourd buster (almost spiking Sandman on his head in the process), and adds a knee drop.

Austin grabs Sandman's beer, and spits it in his face. Cute bit as Austin showboats, so Woman pours beer on Sandman to revive him. Ref gets partially bumped. Austin uses brass knuckles to KO Sandman. Austin gets two as Sandman's foot is on the ropes. Austin confronts the ref, allowing Woman to put the nucks on Sandman's hand. Sandman backs into Austin, which sends him into the ref, and Sandman hits Austin in the back of the head with the nucks, getting the pin to regain the title, even though Austin's foot is on the ropes. Woman and Sandman celebrate as Austin berates the referee.

Match wasn't anything I would call "good". Austin was so obviously above the other two, and they couldn't even begin to keep up with him.

-Sandman [c] (w/Woman) VS Raven (w/Kimona Wanalaya) [1/27/96]

-Sandman and Woman don't get along during Sandman's entrance. Match is clipped to Sandman hitting Raven with the cane and a DDT for two. Sandman continues to cane Raven, accidentally hitting the ref. Sandman canes Stevie Richards and Blue Meanie when they try to interfere. Raven canes Sandman, but then Tommy Dreamer interferes with a low blow and cane shots. Cactus Jack sneaks in and hits Sandman with a double-arm DDT as Dreamer DDTs Raven. Cactus and Dreamer brawl around ringside. Dreamer grabs Meanie, who helps Cactus pound on Dreamer until Shane Douglas makes the save.

Back in the ring, Raven gets a two count. Sandman comes back, and Raven takes the Bret Hart chest-first bump off a couple of Irish Whips. Sandman misses the top rope legdrop, and Raven DDTs Sandman on a chair for the pin and the title. What was shown was pretty much what I'd expect from Raven/Sandman, with some overbooking thrown in.

-Raven [c] (w/Kimona, Stevie, & Meanie) VS Sandman (w/Missy Hyatt)

-Sandman uses a live version of "Enter Sandman" for his entrance, taking FOREVER to do it. Sandman being announced as being from Utah is tremendous. Raven gets the early jump, but Sandman fights back on the outside. Back in the ring, Sandman hits a very impressive delayed brainbuster. Sandman hits a slingshot somersault splash. Sandman kicks Raven outside, and slingshots himself back out. Back inside, Sandman knocks Raven over a seated chair, and does Raven's pose.

Meanie causes a distraction, allowing Raven to hit a chairshot to the back, and a DDT on the chair for the visual fall, but Missy distracts the ref. Sandman comes back with a DDT on the chair. Kimona runs in to break up the pin, kicking off a cat fight with Missy. Missy and Kimona are escorted to the back, and Stevie uses the opportunity to hit a Stevie Kick for two.

Sandman gets a school boy for two. Ref gets bumped. Sandman hits a slam and an ugly legdrop off the top for two. Ref gets bumped again. Stevie sacrifices Meanie to a cane shot. The Bruise Brothers (Harris Twins) hit a double team on Sandman, and Raven gets two off that. Sandman blocks a superplex onto a seated chair, but Raven rocket launches Sandman into the chair, and finishes with a DDT on the chair. Not terrible.

-Raven [c] (w/Stevie & Meanie) VS Shane Douglas

-This is immediately following the Kimona/Beulah

Back from break, Tommy Dreamer cuts off Brian Lee from interfering. Douglas hits the belly-to-belly, but the ref is with Dreamer & Lee. Ref finally makes the count, and only gets two. Franchise gets hot at Dreamer, suckering him into a belly-to-belly suplex. Dreamer & Douglas brawl, causing the locker room to spill out to separate them. Douglas gets back in the ring, and Raven gets a school boy for two. Douglas drops Raven across the top rope, then sents him up in the corner.

Raven fights off a superplex, then Douglas does the same. Douglas hits a cross-body off the top, but Raven rolls through for two. Douglas gets a backslide for two, and locks in a figure 4. Meanie goes for a moonsault that misses, but Douglas has to break the hold to avoid it. Douglas goes for a single-leg crab, but Stevie hits a Stevie Kick, and Raven gets two off that. Douglas hits a DDT for two. Douglas re-applies the figure 4, but one of the Bruise Brothers interferes. Raven loads up his boot, and KO's Douglas to retain. Not a big fan of all the over-booking, but I understand it was part of the ECW style.

-3 Way Dance: Raven [c] VS Sandman VS Pittbull #2

-Lots of hangers-on on the outside, so I imagine this will be over-booked. #2 wins a couple three-way lockups. Raven hits Sandman with a DDT for 2. Raven and Sandman take turns hitting #2 with the cane and a chair, but he won't go down. #2 clotheslines both opponents out over the top. #2 works Raven over on the outside, including a running legdrop off the apron while Raven is draped over the guardrail. Back in the ring, Sandman finally knocks #2 down with a cane shot. Raven gets a cover, but Sandman breaks it up.

Sandman avoids a running spin kick from #2, which sends #2 outside. Sandman follows up by leaping over the top and caning #2 in the head. Match is clipped to Raven hitting Sandman with a butterfly suplex for one. #2 hits Raven with a Tiger Drop, and both challengers cover Raven for two. #2 hits Sandman with a powerslam for two, as Raven breaks it up...only to cover Sandman himself for two. Psychology is a mess, as they keep breaking up covers for no adequetly explored reason.

Sandman rolls Raven outside and goes to work on #2, hitting a hurricarana off the top for two, with Raven making the save. Raven goes for a double DDT, but gets thrown off. Match is clipped to #2 hitting a belly-to-back superplex, but the ref has been bumped. Raven and Sandman trade chairshots before Sandman hits an elbow drop off the top. Sandman calls for his cane...then drops a leg off the top, apparently injuring himself. Sympathetic crowd chants "you fucked up!". Raven covers Sandman, but #2 breaks it up. Sandman uses the cane to hit a double low blow. Raven helps set Sandman up for a superbomb from #2, but then kicks #2 in the head when he covers Sandman, and Raven pins #2. This kicks off a cat fight between Francine and Missy Hyatt.

Match is clipped to Sandman getting several near-falls. Stevie accidentally Stevie Kicks Raven, and Sandman gets a very close near-fall off that. Crowd was going nuts for that false finish. Sandman takes time to pull apart a piece of the guardrail and throw it into the ring. That allows Raven the chance to recover, but Sandman reverses a whip, and Raven eats the guardrail. Raven avoids a suplex on the guardrail, and hits a DDT on the guardrail to retain. Psychology was a mess, but this turned into a hell of a deal when it came down to Raven VS Sandman.

-Raven [c] VS Tommy Dreamer (w/Beulah) [8/11/96]

-This is from Japan.  Tommy backs Raven into the corner, but doesn't pull the trigger on a punch. Dreamer avoids a dropkick, and drops a knee on Raven's balls. Dreamer sets up a chair across the apron, and dropkicks it into Raven's face. They brawl in the crowd, and Raven gets busted open. Raven suplexes Dreamer on the floor, drawing an "ECW" chant. Back in the ring, Raven hits a fist drop to Dreamer's nuts. Raven gets a chair, drapes it across Dreamer's face, and drops a leg. Raven DDTs Dreamer on a seated chair for two.

Raven sets Dreamer on a ringside table, and delivers a double axe handle off the apron. Back into the crowd, where Dreamer walks Raven up the steps and bashes his head into the wall, leaving a blood spot. Dreamer kicks Raven down the steps, but then Stevie, disguised as a fan, Stevie Kicks Dreamer in the back of the head to sends Dreamer down the steps. Back in the ring, Raven gets two off that. Raven holds Dreamer for a Stevie Kick, and it actually hits, and Raven gets two. Second attempt, and Raven gets hit. Stevie powerbombs Dreamer, and Raven gets two off that.

Stevie goes up, but Dreamer crotches him, and hits a superkick of his own. Raven accidentally dropkicks Stevie off the apron, and Dreamer hits him with a DDT for two. Dreamer pounds on Stevie, and hits him with a bulldog onto a chair. Raven school boys Dreamer for two. Dreamer hits a leaping DDT and a splash off the top for two, as Patricia interferes. Dreamer piledrives her, but then walks into a chairshot from Raven for the pin. Match was pretty decent, but that finish was weak sauce.

-Ultimate Jeopardy '96: Stevie Richards [risking Raven's ECW World title] & Brian Lee [risking his hair] VS Tommy Dreamer [risking Beulah] & Sandman [risking getting caned] [10/5/96]

-Dreamer & Lee start. They immediately spill outside, where both partners get involved. Match stays there for a while. Sandman suplexes the timekeeper's table onto Stevie. Lee & Dreamer go into the crowd. Back in the ring, Sandman lands some stiff chops on Stevie. Stevie avoids a clothesline in the corner, and Meanie interferes with an avalanche on Sandman, and Stevie hits a Stevie Kick for two. Lee & Dreamer finally get back in the ring, where Lee hits a running powerslam. Lee grabs a chair, sets it on Dreamer's face, and hits a legdrop for two.

Beulah grabs Lee's ankle, and he responds by grabbing and headbutting her. Dreamer gets a schoolboy for two. Dreamer blocks the Prime Time Slam and hits a DDT, but Laurie Fullington breaks up the pin. Dreamer goes after her, but gets jumped by Lee. Lee & Dreamer go into the bleachers, where Lee throws Dreamer off them, through the merch table. Back in the ring, Stevie gets two on Sandman. Sandman counters a piledriver with a backdrop. Lee and Dreamer brawl into the men's room.

Dreamer & Lee go back into the crowd. In the ring, Sandman hits a slingshot somersault legdrop for two. Sandman hits Air Budweiser (slingshot splash) for two. Lee beats on Dreamer as they fight in the snack bar, then chokeslams him off a ledge through four tables, a move that would live on through the ECW TV intro for years after that. Back in the ring, Sandman goes after Laurie, allowing Stevie to get a school boy for two. Sandman rips off Laurie's shirt, and Stevie hits a Stevie Kick for two. Sandman tries to DDT Laurie, allowing another Stevie Kick for two. Stevie gets the cane, but misses on a homerun swing, and Sandman hits a DDT for the pin and the ECW title. Not a fan of the champion losing the title in a match he's not even in. The match itself wasn't much, with another weak finish.

-Video recaps the history of the ECW World title up to that point. Still photos show Raven beating Sandman in a Barbed Wire match to regain the title. Joey interviews Raven after the video. Raven reveals that his "personal absence" was due to him being in rehab, and that Paul Heyman & Todd Gordon took the opportunity to get the belt off him. Raven says he got title shots because they knew it would be big box office, but never expected him to win. Raven says the only man that can beat him is himself. Good promo.

-Video highlights of Raven regaining the title.

-DISC THREE:

-3 Way Dance: Sandman VS Terry Funk VS Stevie Richards [4/13/97]

-This is from ECW's first PPV Barely Legal. Winner gets Raven immediately after. Dreamer is with Joey on commentary, having given up his spot in this match so Terry can have it. The three exchange strikes to start. Terry goes for the spinning toe hold on Sandman, but Stevie breaks it up, and he & Sandman take turns dropping elbows on Terry. Stevie gets two off that. Stevie seems to talk Sandman into cooperating for an elevated legdrop, but Sandman suplexes Stevie instead. Sandman goes outside, and Terry hits four hangman's neck breakers on Stevie for two. Sandman returns with a ladder, throwing it into the ring, where it cracks Terry in the head.

Sandman throws the ladder on Stevie, then throws it on Terry before covering Terry for two. Sandman sets up the ladder, pausing to DDT Stevie. Terry & Sandman climb. Terry pounds on Sandman, then moonsaults off the ladder, and Stevie does a really piss-poor job of catching him. Sandman slams the ladder onto Stevie. Sandman slugs Terry down, then slams Stevie onto Terry before covering Stevie for two. Stevie dropkicks the ladder into Sandman's face and gets two. Stevie whips Sandman into the ladder for two.

Stevie works on Terry. Sandman drops an elbow on Terry as Stevie hits a fist drop low, and Stevie covers Terry for two. Sandman and Stevie climb the ladder and exchange punches before Terry staggers into the ladder to drop them. Terry does his famous ladder whirly-bird. Sandman & Terry slug it out, allowing Stevie the opportunity to teeter-totter the ladder into their faces. Stevie hits Sandman with a Stevie Kick for two. Stevie hits one on Terry, and he & Sandman cover Terry for two.

They fight outside, and Sandman tosses Stevie into the crowd, before using the guardrail and the ladder to teeter-totter the ladder into Stevie's face. Terry grabs a chair and lays out both Sandman and Stevie. Sandman takes off again as Terry works Stevie over, hitting a big delayed vertical suplex. Sandman returns with a trash can, throwing it into the ring and hitting Terry in the head. Terry covers Stevie for two anyway. Sandman cracks Stevie with the trash can, and suplexes Stevie on the trash can, and Terry covers for two.

Terry & Sandman hits Stevie with a spike piledriver on the trash can. Sandman drapes the ladder on top of Stevie, and Terry slingshots Sandman onto it for two. Terry holds Stevie so Sandman can teeter-totter the ladder into Stevie's face, and the ladder flies into the crowd. Terry gets two on Stevie. Sandman & Terry hit a double team powerbomb on Stevie and a double team pin to eliminate him.

Sandman grabs some barbed wire and tosses it into the ring. Terry nails him with the trash can, then pulls Sandman's shirt over his head before delivering several punches. Terry whips Sandman with the barbed wire. Sandman wraps the barbed wire around himself and rushes Terry, before dropping a leg off the top for two. Terry puts the trash can on Sandman's head, and Stevie re-enters with a Stevie Kick on Sandman, setting up a Terry moonsault for the pin. This reminded me way too much of late-90's and early 2000s "yard tards".

-Raven [c] VS Terry Funk

-Raven demolishes Terry, who does a gory blade job off the drop toe hold onto a seated chair spot. Crowd chants for Tommy as the doctor looks at Terry. Raven takes Terry outside, and suplexes the time keeper's table onto him. Raven sets up another table, then hits a running dive over the ropes, putting Terry through the table. Raven's entourage enters, and some woman named Reggie Bennett gives him a really shitty sit-out powerbomb.

Raven gets on the mic and vows to put Terry through three tables right below the announce position. Big Dick Dudley attacks Dreamer. Raven DDTs the ref. Dreamer blocks a chokeslam with a kick to the nuts, and "gives" Big Dick a "chokeslam" through the tables. Dreamer gets involved, despite promising Terry he wouldn't, and counters a Raven hiptoss with a DDT. Terry gets two off that, then small packages Raven for the pin and the title. Complete clusterfuck in the name of giving Terry that feel-good moment.

-Barbed Wire Match: Terry Funk [c] VS Sabu (w/Bill Alfonso) [8/9/97]

-They takes turns attempting to throw each other into the wire, with no success. Funk hits a hangman's neck breaker and a piledriver for two. Funk hits a DDT and tries to mash Sabu's face into the wire, but Sabu block. Sabu gets a hurricarana for two, but then meets the wire when Funk kicks him off the pin. Funk rakes Sabu's face across the wire, then whips him into it. Funk crotches Sabu on the wire, which shreds Sabu's genie pants. Terry works Sabu over as the crowd chants for Sabu.

Sabu tangles Funk into the wire. Sabu gets a chair from Fonzie, and hits several chairshots to the back. Sabu grabs a spike, and jabs Funk repeatedly in the forehead. Air Sabu misses, and Sabu's tricep is torn open by the wire. Sabu gets some tape from Fonzie, wrapping it around his wound before, during, and after taking a hangman's neckbreaker onto two chairs from Funk. Once he's done, Sabu springs to his feet. Funk continues to work Sabu over and goes for the spinning toe hold, stopping to drag Fonzies across the wire when he tries to interfere.

Funk drops Sabu across the wire, then wraps wire across his fist to attack Fonzie with. Funk sadistically tortures poor Fonzie, which allows Sabu to grab wire cutters, first to stab Funk with, then to cut some of the wire down. RVD interferes and attacks Funk. RVD wraps Funk in wire and lays him on a table, which Sabu puts him through. This brings out Tommy Dreamer who lays out RVD and carries him to the back. Back in the ring, Sabu gets a two count.                                                                  

Sabu & Terry end up getting tangled up with the wire and each other, and Sabu simply forces Funk's shoulders down for the pin and the title. Match was a total horror show with a little wrestling thrown in.

-Three Way Dance: Sabu [c] (w/Bill Alfonso) VS Shane Douglas (w/Francine) VS Terry Funk [8/17/97]

-This is a rematch of the original three way dance, that went to a 60 minute draw. Francine tries to buy Terry's co-opertation, to no avail. This is eight days after Sabu won the title. Feeling out process. Terry rolls outside, opting to let Douglas & Sabu go at it. Douglas begs off a punch, and implores Sabu to go after Funk. It actually works, and the three brawl on the outside. Funk takes a couple unprotected trash can shots to the head, and Douglas gets two off that as Douglas & Sabu start working together. Douglas suplexes Sabu on top of Funk for two, then drops a leg on Funk for two.

Sabu hits Funk with a slingshot leg drop for two. Douglas has some fans in the arena. Douglas sets Funk up for Air Sabu for two. The Douglas/Sabu partnership ends when Douglas cracks Sabu with a chair across the back. Sabu hits Douglas with a release German suplex. Sabu sends Douglas into the crowd, and flies out after him. Sabu hits a springboard cross-body on Funk for two. Douglas gets back in, and hits Sabu with a spinning delayed vertical suplex for two. Funk goes for a hangman's neckbreaker through two chairs on Sabu, and Douglas helps out by elevating Sabu's legs, and they drive Sabu through the chairs. Funk gets two off that, and flips out on the ref.

Funk goes after Douglas. Sabu interrupts with chairshots for both. Funk hits Douglas with a hangman's neckbreaker, and Funk/Sabu double cover gets two. Funk piledrives Sabu on a chair for two. Douglas grabs a section of guardrail and throws it into the ring, nearly cracking himself in the head in the process. Funk & Sabu work together to send Douglas into the guardrail, and Funk gets two off that. Sabu traps both Funk & Douglas under the guardrail, and drops all his weight on them. Sabu covers both at the same time for simultaneous two counts.                                                       

Douglas comes back with belly-to-belly suplexes on Funk & Sabu but doesn't go for the cover. They recreate the double sleeper spot from the first match. Sabu hits Douglas with the triple jump moonsault for two. Sabu tries it on Funk, but the chair gives way giving Sabu pause, and Funk avoids the moonsault. Funk hits Douglas with three headbutts, conveniently falling next to Douglas, allowing Sabu to hit both with a triple jump moonsault and cover both for two.

Sabu wants to put Douglas through a table, but Funk rolls Shane off the table. Sabu settles for Funk, and enlists Fonzie's help to hold Funk on the table. This brings out Todd Gordon, and a convoluted sequence sees Sabu (conveniently trying to sit a chair on the top turnbuckle and not looking) blindly jumping off the top and putting both Gordon and Fonzie through the table. Sabu gets a ladder and puts it to use. The ref gets in Sabu's way and gets popped. Sandman runs in and attacks Sabu, putting him under the ladder and hitting a slingshot somersault legdrop. Douglas gets two on Sabu off that, then he and Funk simply double cover Sabu to eliminate him.

As Sandman is being pulled away, Sabu hits a dive, wiping out the officials and Sandman. Sabu and Sandman try to fight, but have to be pulled apart. Funk grabs a trash can...and repeatedly hits himself in the head with it. ECW locker room stays at ringside to watch the match. Douglas hits the belly-to-belly for two. Douglas holds Funk for some Francine slaps, and Dory Jr. enters to clean house. Funk uses the distraction to school boy Douglas for two.

Douglas fights off a spinning toe hold attempt, and tries to belly-to-belly Funk off the apron through a table, but Funk puts Douglas through it instead, and falls down. That somehow leads to Douglas getting a two count. Douglas hits another belly-to-belly for two, and follows up with another for another near-fall. Funk counters a third with a small package for two, and Douglas simply hits the third belly-to-belly for the pin and the title. Match was actually professional-looking for the most part, but the belly-to-belly suplex is a weak sauce finish, and Joey being stunned that Funk would kick out of it was a little irritating.

-DISC FOUR:

-Shane Douglas [c] (w/Francine) VS ??? [10/16/97]

-Douglas rips on the Queens, NY crowd, then calls out Rick Rude to bring out his challenger. Crowd chants "You Fucked Chyna!" at Rude as he tries to go through his speil. Rude turns it around on the crowd, which Francine & Shane enjoy. Rude says Douglas hired him to find him the best competition available. Rude says the man he picked ran roughshod over the WWF, causing Shane to think it's Shawn Michaels. Rude continues, and eventually brings out Shane's opponent...

-Shane Douglas [c] VS Bam Bam Bigelow

-Bigelow is a fellow member of the Triple Threat, and Shane goes ballistic. Bigelow shoves aside Chris Candido. Joey says Bigelow has always been touted as a future world champion, which I don't remember. Bigelow pounds on Douglas to start. Douglas takes some time to fight back, but then Bigelow crotches Douglas on the top rope with a gorilla press. Bigelow gets another gorilla press, and dumps Douglas to the floor.

Bigelow pounds on Douglas in the corner. Douglas fights back with a dropkick, and a cross-body off the top for two. Douglas hits a suplex, hurting his back in the process. Douglas goes low with a mule kick, and the crowd responds by "woo"-ing. Douglas hits a couple chops, which only serve to annoy Bigelow. Bigelow hits a Rude Awakening, but relents on the cover. Bigelow misses the diving headbutt, but counters a high-angle suplex with a DDT, and finishes with a powerbomb to win the title. Crowd goes nuts for the title change. Pretty short match, but the psychology was sound with Douglas being thrown off by Bigelow's betrayal and Bam Bam working on his neck to get the win.

-Bam Bam Bigelow [c] VS Shane Douglas (w/Francine) [11/30/97]
-This is in Pittsburgh, so Douglas is the babyface. Joey makes up some BS about Bigelow not wanting to "cooperate" anymore to explain him going from losing to Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania XI and being a jobber-to-the-main-eventers to being ECW World Champion. Francine is on crutches, having broken her pelvis while interfering in a prior Bam Bam/Douglas match.

Bigelow overpowers Douglas to start. Crowd chants "lard ass" at Bigelow. All punch-kick for the first few minutes. Bigelow charges into a boot, but blocks the belly-to-belly with a headbut. Bigelow works a chinlock, then counters a cross-body into a powerslam for two. Bigelow hits a baseball slide, sending Douglas into the guardrail. Match crawls at a snail's pace for a while. Douglas hits a low blow, but Bigelow blocks a suplex and hits one of his own for two.

Bigelow sets up a table and goes for the moonsault, but Douglas recovers, and powerbombs Bigelow through the table. Douglas goes after Bigelow's kidneys. Douglas clotheslines Bigelow to the outside, but then goes for a slingshot hurricarana (!), but Bigelow catches him, and powerbombs him through the table. Bigelow does a really good job of selling his kidney pain. Douglas slowly crawls back into the ring, and Bigelow hits a powerbomb for two.

Bigelow pounds on Douglas in the corner, and busts him open. Bigelow slowly works him over. Bigelow teases tossing Douglas into the crowd. Francine calls for Candido & Lance Storm even though Douglas will be DQ'd if the interfere. Francine gets in and hits Bigelow with a crutch. Bigelow grabs a crutch and takes a baseball swing at her head, but she ducks and bails, so Bigelow hits Douglas with the crutch, injuring Douglas' arm. Bigelow works on Douglas' injured arm. Douglas hits a belly-to-belly out of nowhere, but can't make the cover.

Bigelow grabs a chair, setting up a piece of a broken table with it. Bigelow tries to powerbomb Douglas through the contraption, but Douglas counters with a belly-to-belly to put Bigelow through it and regain the title. Crowd heat carried this one, as it was mostly pretty slow and plodding. The "Bigelow turns on Douglas" angle lost a lot of steam when it was revealed to be part of one of those convoluted plots that only happen in wrestling and spy movies to keep Taz away from the title.

-Shane Douglas [c] (w/Francine) VS Taz [1/10/99]

-Douglas' long reign is in part due to an arm injury that kept him out for a few months. This is Taz's first world title match. Mat wrestling to start, and no one gains a signifigant advantage. Douglas works Taz over. Crowd shows how much they care by chanting "show your tits" at Francine. Taz hits an Alabama Slam and follows Douglas outside. Douglas whips Taz into the guardrail, with Taz very obviously putting himself into the crowd.

They brawl into the crowd. Doing nothing of note for a few minutes. Taz rams Douglas into a concrete devider, which busts Douglas open. Douglas goes low to turn the tide, and cracks Taz with a chair. They get back in the ring, where a table gets set up in the corner. Douglas pounds on Taz, who no-sells and tells him to bring it on. Taz stomps Douglas down, but Douglas reverses a whip, and sends Taz through the table for two.

Douglas props another table in a corner, but ends up taking a head-and-arm Tazzplex through the table for two. Suddenly, a burst of pyro and Sabu's music hits, and the lights go out. An unneeded run-in in "the biggest world title match in ECW history" and the only use of pyro I've ever seen in ECW used for that run-in? That's EXTREME. Sabu legdrops Douglas through a table, then throws a chair at the head of Taz before putting him through a table. Sabu's music plays through most of the run-in, a la New Jack. I get the storyline of Sabu having a greivence against both guys, but couldn't have him need to be held back before the match starts?

Douglas crawls into the ring and gets two on Taz. Douglas calls for the Triple Threat, but it doesn't exist anymore. Tammy & Chris do come to the ring, and a cat fight breaks out between Francine and Tammy. Candido turns on Douglas, leading to Taz hitting a suplex. Douglas calls for Candido to come back, and Taz locks on the Tazzmission for the choke out and the title, no-selling a low blow in the process. Match was terrible, and didn't exactly put Taz over strong to start his title reign.

-Taz [c] VS FTW Champion Sabu

-This is a "title unification" match. Taz requests the match be made an "Extreme Death Match" (Falls Count Anywhere). Sabu ignores Fonzie and apparently agrees to the match. Taz takes Sabu down, and hits crossface punches to Sabu's injured jaw. Sabu comes back with a slingshot somersault legdrop for two. Sabu throws a chair at Taz's face, then hits Air Sabu.

They brawl into the crowd, where nothing of note happens. They go on to the entrance ramp, where Sabu dives off the ramp and into the crowd onto Taz for two. Taz responds by throwing Sabu off the ramp, then back into the ring. Fonzie helps Sabu set up a table bridge. Taz ends up hitting an overhead belly-to-belly throw to send Sabu through the table. Taz calls out Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan (yeah, like they were watching) while punching Sabu. Taz chases Fonzie to the back. Back in the ring, Sabu hits a low blow and a legdrop for two.

Taz hits a spinning sit-out powerbomb for two. They go back outside, where Sabu whips Taz into the guardrail. Sabu makes another table bridge, but Taz sends him back into the ring before he can use it. Sabu almost kills them both with a sunset bomb to the floor, as the guardrail was too close to try that move. That gets two. Sabu leaps off the top to the outside, putting Taz through the table bridge for two. Back in the ring, Sabu hits an Araibian Facebuster for two.

Taz hits a pump handle suplex for two, then Sabu comes back with the triple jump moonsault for two. Taz hits another suplex, then drops Sabu's face onto a chair for two. Sabu hits a triple jump legdrop for two. Taz hits a head-and-arm Tazzplex, then adds another one off the second turnbuckle for two. Taz hits a full-nelson suplex through a table for two. Fonzie throws in the towel, but Sabu throws it out. Tazzmission finishes. They just meandered from spot to spot without any real flow. Crowd popped for spots and tried a couple chants, but otherwise wasn't into it much.

Taz offers a handshake, and Sabu accepts. No attack by RVD this time.

-DISC FIVE:

-Taz [c] VS Masato Tanaka [9/19/99]

-Lots of heat for Taz, as news of his signing with the WWF had broken. Customary "You Sold Out!" chants for Taz during the ring introductions. There's a disterbance in the crowd, and Taz challenges Mike Awesome (w/Judge Jeff Jones) to come get some. Taz yells at Paul Heyman to let Mike Awesome go. Paul relents making it...

-Three Way Dance: Taz [c] VS Masato Tanaka VS Mike Awesome (w/Judge Jeff Jones)

-Tanaka launches himself at Awesome to start. Taz hits suplexes on both challengers, before they work together to take Taz out. Taz hits Awesome with a clothesline and Tanaka with a head-and-arm Tazplex, but stops to pose, and gets clobbered by Awesome. Awesome hits Tanaka with a running powerbomb. Awesome goes up, but gets caught with a head-and-arm Tazplex off the top. Tanaka surprises Taz with a roaring elbow. Awesome follows up with a frog splash on Taz, and he and Tanaka both cover Taz to eliminate him.

The locker room comes out onto the entrance ramp to give Taz a send-off (although it wouldn't be his last ECW appearance before heading to the WWF). Crowd doesn't buy it. Awesome flies over the top onto Tanaka, then throws him into the guardrail. Awesome hits a flying clothesline off the top as the crowd sings the goodbye song to Taz. Awesome hits a sit-out powerbomb for two. Awesome sets up a ringside table, but Tanaka slides out of the running powerbomb.

Tanaka messes up the springboard clothesline. Tanaka runs down the ramp, and delivers a chairshot to Awesome's head. Tanaka uses the chair as a springboard for a tornado DDT on the ramp. Tanaka hits a missile dropkick to the back of the neck. Tanaka hits a tornado DDT on the chair for two. Tanaka drapes a chair across Awesome's face, then dives off the top with another chair in his hands, cracking Awesome in the face. That gets two. Tanaka hits a powerbomb for two. Awesome slides out of a powerbomb, and powerbombs Tanaka over the top, through the table.

Awesome hits an Alabama Slam and a frog splash for two. Tanaka no-sells two chairshots to the head, and hits Diamond Dust for two. Awesome avoids a roaring elbow, hits a release German suplex, followed by a spear for two. Aweomse hits a flying chairshot off the top, and sets up a table inside the ring. Awesomes goes up top, but gets caught by Tanaka. Awesome fights off a superplex, and hits a super powerbomb through the table for the pin and the title. Taz presents Awesome with the belt and shakes his hand. Awesome shakes Tanaka's hand while Taz gets hugs from Paul. Crowd then suddenly starts chanting for Taz. Pretty fun match, which was the usual Awesome/Tanaka affair after Taz was eliminated, elevated by tremendous crowd head.

-ECW on TNN Taping: Awesome presses Spike Dudley into the crowd and calls out Masato Tanaka, who is in the crowd scounting him for a title match scheduled for the next week. They start to brawl, only to be held apart. Cyrus, in a move completely out of character for him, goads Paul to "give the fans what they want", and make a title match right now...

-Mike Awesome [c] (w/Judge Jeff Jones) VS Masato Tanaka [12/17/99]

-Match is clipped to Awesome powerbombing Tanaka off the ring apron through a table. Match is clipped again to Tanaka hitting a tornado DDT onto two chairs for a near-fall. Tanaka uses one chair to drive another into Awesome's face, and that gets two. Tanaka no-sells three chairshots, but is felled by a fourth. Awesome hits a running powerbomb for two.

Match is then clipped to Tanaka hitting a DDT off the top, through a table, for two. Tanaka hits a roaring elbow for the pin and the title. Awesome shakes Tanaka's hand and straps the belt around his waist. Awesome raises Tanaka's hand, but then clotheslines him and powerbombs him over the top, through a table. Big heat for Awesome after that. Match seemed like their usual from what was shown, as they had a template and rarely appeared to stray from it.

-Masato Tanaka [c] VS Mike Awesome (w/Judge Jeff Jones) [12/23/99]

-Awesome charges Tanaka to start, and dumps him outside before hitting an impressive tope. Awesome sets up a table and goes to powerbomb Awesome off the apron, but Tanaka backdrops out of it. Tanaka hits a dive off the top, and adds a running chairshot to the head. They go into the crowd for a moment, then back in the ring, and Awesome hits a slingshot splash for two. Tanaka no-sells two chairshots. Awesome goes up for a flying chairshot, but Tanaka dropkicks the chair into Awesome's face on the way down. Tanaka hits a chairshot. Tanaka hits a tornado DDT on two chairs for a near-fall.

Tanaka hits his diving chairshot for two. Awesome takes an awkward bump off Diamond Dust, and that gets two. Awesome hits a release German, then Tanaka charges into Sky High. Awesome hits a running powerbomb for two. Jones helps Awesome get a table into the ring, and Awesome sets it up in the corner. Tanaka avoids the powerbomb once, but can't do it a second time, and Awesome puts him through the table for two.

Awesomes sets up another table and goes up top, but Tanaka catches him, and DDTs Awesome off the top, through the table. That gets two. Tanaka hits a roaring elbow for two. Awesome counters Diamond Dust, and hits an Alabama Slam followed by a frog splash for two. Awesome hits a sit-out powerbomb off the top for the pin to regain the title. You know what you're getting here.

-At a house show, Awesome works his way through the crowd, past a guy in a Sabres jersey and another guy who looks like David Otunga. Crowd chants "You Sold Out" at Awesome, who appeared on Nitro while still ECW Champion. Jeff Jones issues an open challenge, which is answered by...

-Mike Awesome [c] VS Taz [4/13/00]

-Taz comes out to his WWF music, and the crowd loses their shit. Slugfest to start. They brawl outside for a minute. Back in the ring, the ref gets bumped, and Tommy Dreamer interferes, hitting a DDT on Awesome. Taz quickly gets the submission with the Tazmission to regain the title. Awesome takes off through the crowd. Big "Fuck You" to WCW here by Paul, putting a WWF wrestler over a WCW wrestler.

-Taz cuts a promo on Awesome, talking about how "I did business the right way" before leaving for the WWF.

-Video from Hardcore TV as Tommy Dreamer beats Taz at Cyberslam 2000 to win the ECW title. Raven comes out to bury the hatchet. Justin Credible comes out to ruin the moment, caning Dreamer, and hitting Raven with That's Incredible. Credible throws down the ECW tag titles and spits on them, before goading Dreamer into a match.

-Tommy Dreamer [c] VS Justin Credible [4/22/00]

-Dreamer is busted open from the cane shot. Dreamer throws Credible into the crowd. Dreamer grabs the ring bell, sets it on Credible's crotch, and rings it. Credible counters a Death Valley Driver into an inverted DDT on a chair. Francine comes to ringside, ostensibly to cheer on Tommy. Credible stomps a mudhole in Dreamer, then pulls him out of the corner with a powerbomb for two. Credible hits a sloppy swinging DDT for two. Dreamer hits an inverted Razor's Edge into a stunner. Francine helps Dreamer set up a table bridge.

Credible tries to pedigree Dreamer off the apron, but Dreamer fights out, and hits a Death Valley Driver off the apron, putting both men through the table. Jason distracts Dreamer, allowing Credible to hit That's Incredible for two. Credible drags Francine into the ring and almost hits her with That's Incredible. Dreamer saves her, and hits a DDT for two. Dreamer goes for another Death Valley Driver, but Francine turns on him again, and Credible hits That's Incredible to win the title. Not bad, not bad at all.

-DISC SIX:

-Justin Credible [c] (w/Francine) VS Jerry Lynn [10/1/00]

-Credible goes for cheap heat, wearing a Green Bay Brett Favre jersey in Minnesota. Francine has taped ribs. Lynn out-wrestles Credible to start, and he takes a powder to jaw with the fans. They exchange chops and go for their finishers, but neither can hit. Lynn hits a bulldog for two. Lynn hits a baseball slide to send Credible against the guardrail, and Credible almost misses catching him on a dive. Back in, Credible catches Lynn with a black hole slam, and grabs a chair. Credible sends Lynn head-first into the seated chair, and gets two. Credible stomps a mudhole, then pulls him out of the corner into a powerbomb on the chair for two.

They fight onto the set, where Credible rakes Lynn's face across the mesh cage setup. Credible pounds on Lynn, who manages to come back slamming Credible's face onto a chair, and gets two off that. Credible hits an inverted DDT for two. Credible locks in a front facelock while the classy crowd chants "Just a Faggot!".  Credible gets on the mic and talks shit while he kicks Lynn, who goads the crowd into throwing drinks at him.

Lynn gets a crucifix into a sunset flip for two, which kicks off a near-fall series that ends when Credible hits a spinning DDT. Lynn hits a tornado DDT on a chair. Lynn fires up on Credible, including countering a shoulder block with a guillotine legdrop, and follows up with a top rope leg drop for two. Lynn grabs a table and sets Credible on it, but gets distracted by Francine and thrown through the table by Credible for two. Credible goes up and gets caught, but manages to hit a sunset bomb for two. Lynn slides out of That's Incredible, and hits the cradile piledriver...for two. Lynn goes for That's Incredible, but Justin counters with one of his own for two.

Credible accidentally KO's the ref with a superkick. Lynn gets a rollup, but heel ref Danny Daniels refuses to count the pin. Lynn tries to hit Daniels with the cradile piledriver, but Francine hits Lynn with the cane, and Credible drills Lynn with the title belt. That gets a (very fast) two. Daniels gives another couple fast counts, but Lynn keeps kicking out. I love that a heel ref will do anything, but count the three when someone gets their shoulder up. Lynn almost gets the cradile piledriver on Credible, but Daniels hits him in the head with the cane. Credible hits That's Incredible. Daniels counts, stopping to flip Lynn off before three, when New Jack (the original assigned ref)'s music hits, which shocks Daniels so much he forgets to make the third count.

New Jack takes care of Daniels, but gets caned by Credible. Lynn and Credible fight over a tombstone, with Lynn hitting a cradile tombstone for the pin and the title. Match was decent if nondescript before the overbooking and cheap attempts to draw drama out of the match kicked in.

Lynn celebrates with the ECW babyfaces. The good times wouldn't last...

-Double Jeopardy: Jerry Lynn [c] VS Justin Credible (w/Francine) VS Steve Corino (w/Jack Victory & Dawn Marie) VS Sandman [11/5/05]

-This starts off as two matches taking place at the same time (Lynn VS Credible, Corino VS Sandman), with the winners of the two matches facing off in the finals. Sandman is nowhere to be found at the start, so Lynn & Credible start while Corino watches. They trade near-falls right off the bat. Corino goes after Lynn. The match becomes a three way dance for a little while, while Cyrus points out that Corino would be better served sitting outside and watching. Credible & Corino double-team Lynn as Sandman's music hits. Match stops for a bit as everyone watches Sandman make his entrance. Then, Corino and Credible remember a match is going on, and go back to double-teaming Lynn, who gets busted open.

Lynn fights back as Sandman finally enters, caning Lynn and Credible right off the bat. Corino interrupts a pre-match beer, and dares Sandman to hit him with the cane. Corino ducks one shot, but not a second. Sandman canes Jack Victory when he tries to interfere. Lynn & Credible double team Sandman. Lynn catches Corino with a tornado DDT. Sandman drapes Corino across the guardrail, and hits a guillotine legdrop. Back in the ring, Credible hits Lynn with a black hole slam for two. A ladder gets involved, and Sandman whip all three opponents into it. The ladder falls right on Lynn's knee after he hits it. Credible got busted open at some point.

Sandman suplex Corino onto the ladder for two. Sandman bulldogs Credible on the ladder. Lynn cracks Corino across the back with a chair. Lynn and Sandman exchange punches before Lynn whips Sandman into the guardrail. Corino uses four chairs and a length of guardrail to make a bridge, but ends up getting suplexed onto the bridge. Sandman cracks the back of his head on the guardrail in the process. That gets two. Lynn & Credible fight over a tombstone. Lynn gets it for two as Francine interferes. Dawn wants to fight Francine, but Corino shoos her away before walking into a caneshot from Sandman.

Corino & Credible hit a double superkick on Lynn. Credible hits Lynn with That's Incredible while Corino counters the White Russian Legsweep with the Old School Expulsion for simultaneous pins to make it Corino VS Credible. Yeah, that wasn't contrived at all. Crowd chants bullshit at that.

Corino wins a slugfest and hits a bionic elbow followed by an elbow drop for two. Lynn attacks Corino. Sandman does the same to Credible. Neither Lynn or Sandman leave the ringside area. Corino sets up a table, but first they exchange chops. Corino is a bloody mess (shock of all shocks). Corino & Credible crack heads. Corino suplexes Credible through the table for two. Francine gets into the ring. Credible pulls her into the way of a superkick. Corino hits the Old School Expulsion anyway for two.

Credible hits a stiff superkick for two. Corino hits another Old School Expulision, but then Dawn Marie turns on him, hitting both Corino and Jack Victory with low blows before leaving. Corino no-sells a couple cane shots before hitting a superkick for the pin and the title. Match was wonderfully chaotic before the weak sauce finish. Lynn hands the title belt over to Corino, then slaps him.

-Tables, Ladders, Chairs, and Canes: Steve Corino [c] (w/Jack Victory) VS Justin Credible [w/Francine] VS Sandman [1/7/01]

-C & C jump Sandman right as he enters the ring. Ladder gets involved. Sandman is the first to climb, and Credible cuts him off with a cane shot, then the ladder falls on top of Corino. Credible does the Terry Funk whirly-bird deal, but Sandman avoids it, and uses the ladder to batter Credible. Sandman climbs, but gets knocked down by Corino. Corino and Credible use chairs to drive to top of the ladder into Sandman's groin. He sells it for about 5 seconds.

Credible reverses a Sandman whip into the ropes, and Sandman throws himself over the top, through a table. Corino hits Credible with a drop toe hold onto a chair. Sandman gets in and slugs Credible down, but is then kicked in the nuts by Corino. Sandman grabs a cane, and goes after both opponents, busting Credible open. Sandman stands a ladder up against the ropes, and suplexes Corino onto it. Sandman throws Credible off the apron through a table.

Corino goes outside to set up a table, and Sandman throws a ladder onto him. Sandman climbs, but the ladder gives way before he can grab the belt. Credible wanders around the ring waiting for Corino and Sandman. Corino climbs then ruins the spot by looking right at Credible before Credible leaps off the top to knock Corino off the ladder and onto a chair. Sandman climbs, but is then knocked over the top through another table. Corino fights off a pedigree from Credible, and catapults him into a ladder.

Corino goes for the Old School Expulsion on Credible, but Credible fights out and hits That's Incredible. Francine leaps off the apron and hits Sandman with a hurricarana. Sandman sells that for about three seconds before grabbing a bigger ladder. Corino and Credible climb the big ladder, but someone raises the belt. Sandman canes them both down.

Credible climbs but gets caught by Corino, and they both dive through a table. That allows Sandman to climb and grab the belt to become a four-time ECW champion. Match was strictly amateur hour, particularly on the part of the Sandman, who had no interest in selling anything at all.

-Credible and Corino seemingly turn face by shaking Sandman's hand and fighting off Da Baldies (like any of this would matter in a month). Sandman continues his celebration while Rhino sneaks into the ring. Rhino slips before goaring Sandman, drawing a "You Fucked Up" chant. The bell rings early. Rhino asks why he is the TV champion when, "this fuckin' poor-ass company don't even have TV". Rhino threatens Sandman's family, and Sandman agrees to a match.

-Sandman [c] VS Rhino

-Rhino destroys Sandman, goaring him through a table for two. Rhino piledrives Sandma off the apron through a table, and that gets two. Rhino piledrives Sandman on a piece of broken table to finally get the pin, and become the last "original" ECW champion.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Interesting set that should have something for everyone. I'm not a fan of most of the wrestling itself, but there was some good stuff in here. Would provide a good look back for anyone who is still nostalgic about ECW.

ECW on Sci-Fi 3/18/08

-From Biloxi, MS

-Match 1: Kane VS Elijah Burke

-Burke lands a couple quick body shots, but Kane shrugs them off and kicks Burke in the face. Kane hits a backbreaker, and claws at Burke's face. Burke fights back, hitting a dropkick and more body shots. Burke goes for the Elijah Express, but Kane catches him with a chokeslam for the win. Not bad. Too short to mean much though.

-Mark Henry shakes hands with Armando Estrada backstage. Chavo Guerrero walks in, and asks what's up. Armando lets Chavo know about all the big men that will be in the WrestleMania battle royale. Chavo is concerned. Colin Delaney enters to ask Armando about a contract. Chavo gets annoyed and berates Delaney. Armando books Chavo VS Colin for the main event, non-title, but if Colin wins, he gets a contract.

-Floyd Mayweather video airs.

-Match 2: Kofi Kingston VS James Curtis

-Short squash. Kofi fights out of an armbar and finishes with the usual, hitting Trouble in Paradise on the second try after Curtis ducks the first attempt.

-CM Punk tries to get Festus to snap out of his coma. It doesn't work.

-Match 3: WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz & Shelton Benjamin VS Jessie, Festus, & CM Punk

-Morrison gets worked over by Jessie & Festus. Jessie hits a sliding dropkick for two. M & M get sent outside, and Punk hits a springboard dive. Benjamin stops Jessie from hitting a dive, but then tries to punch Festus, who grabs Benjamin's arm and launches him over the top, onto Benjamin's own partners.

Commercial break.

Back from break, Punk is working on Miz. Punk hits a springboard clothesline on Miz for two. Punk becomes the face-in-peril. Punk makes the hot tag and Festus cleans house. Festus avoids the Reality Check, and hits a one-man flapjack for the pin. Pretty decent tag match.

-RAW REBOUND: HHH books Cena/Orton VS the RAW roster, then pedigrees them both afterward.

-Big Show video. Lots of time killing on this episode.

-Match 4: ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero VS Colin Delaney

-Chavo pounds away, but Colin surprised him with a hiptoss and a dropkick. Chavo immediately regains control. Chavo hits two of the Three Amigos, but misses the frog splash. Colin gets two off that, but Chavo finishes right after with a Gory Bomb. Not a bad main event, with a good underdog story to carry it.

-Nothing bad, but nothing spectacular here. Too much time waisting killed the flow of the show.

ECW on Sci-Fi: 3/11/08

-From Chicago, IL

-Match 1: Extreme Rules Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship: John Morrison & The Miz [c] VS Tommy Dreamer & Colin Delaney

-Challengers suck up to Chicago as Dreamer wears a Cubs jersey, and they have a White Sox jersey among their plunder. Champs try to double-team Dreamer, but end up getting wiped out on the floor. Miscommunication allows Dreamer to slide a Kendo stick to Delaney, and he tees off on the champions. Champions turn the tide as Morrison nails Delaney with the Kendo stick, and Miz hits Dreamer with a trash can lid. Dreamer blocks a double team, and slams Miz onto Morrison with the trash can lid in between.

Challengers hit the "Whazzup" headbut with Delaney wearing a Chicago Bears' football helmet. Both champions get tied to the Tree of Woe, and Dreamer dropkicks a trash can into them. A Tower of Doom spot leaves all four down, and Delaney covers Morrison for two. Delaney goes for a Sliced Bread #2 or an Acid Drop, but Morrison pushes him to the floor, then follows up with a garbage can assisted moonsault off the apron.

Dreamer tries to give Miz a Death Valley Driver through a table, but ends up taking a double team spinebuster through the table, and the champs retain. Pretty good match, possibly the best since I've started watching these shows.

-ECW GM Armando Estrada announces that at WrestleMania XXIV, there will be a 24 man battle royale between superstars from all three brands, with the winner facing Chavo Guerrero for the ECW title at WrestleMania. Estrada brings out one of the participants; The Great Khali.

-Match 2: The Great Khali VS Stevie Richards

-Say good-bye to your push Stevie. Stevie throws some weak punches, but immediately gets caught with the Tree Slam and pinned. Thankfully short.

-Mike Knox attacks Richards afterwards, laying him out with the Knox Out.

-LATER TONIGHT: CM Punk VS Big Daddy V in a Money in the Bank Qualifier in the main event.

-Match 3: Deuce (w/Domino & Cherry) VS Kofi Kingston

-Short squash. Deuce gets some jobber offense, Kofi hits his usual, and finishes with Trouble in Paradise out of nowhere.

-LAST NIGHT ON RAW: Tempers flare at the Big Show/Floyd Mayweather weigh-in.

-Leena Yada interviews hometown boy CM Punk about his match tonight. He says nothing of note.

-Match 4: Festus VS Elijah Burke

-BISCUITS AND GRAVAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY! Festus charges right into the 4UP punch, then the ringpost, allowing Burke to start working on his arm. Festus fights back with a bicycle kick, sit-down splash, and modified F-5 for the win. Not much here, and didn't seem to have a point to it.

-Shelton Benjamin comes out for guest commentary.

-Match 5: Money in the Bank Qualifier: Big Daddy V (w/Matt Striker) VS CM Punk

-Punk tries kicking at V, but ends up running into a Black Hole Slam. V s l o w l y works Punk over, but misses a charge. Punk hits a couple running knees, but stupidly goes for the GTS. V falls on Punk, but gets caught when he goes out after him. Punk snaps V's neck on the top rope, and wins by count out. Matt Striker tries to get a piece, but takes a GTS for his troubles. Crap main event that did nothing for Punk.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: The opener was good, then it was downhill from there.

ECW on Sci-Fi 3/4/08

-From Cleveland, OH.

-Recap of the Chavo/Punk feud, including everything but Chavo's clean win at No Way Out.

-Match 1: WWE Tag Team Championship: John Morrison & The Miz [c] VS Tommy Dreamer & Colin Delaney

-Miz gets a nice hometown reaction. Dreamer and Delaney hit the Quebecers' finisher on Miz. Miz quickly turns the tide, and the champs hit a series of moves, culminating with Morrison hitting the Flying Chuck on Delaney, forcing Dreamer to make the save. Dreamer gets the hot tag. Miz saves Morrison from a basement dropkick, so Dreamer hits an elevated neckbreaker instead. Dreamer locks Morrison in a Texas Cloverleaf, but Miz makes the save. The champions start double teaming Dreamer, and Delaney shocks the hell out of everyone by grabbing a chair and attacking the champions, drawing a DQ. Dreamer is more proud than pissed, and it actually draws an "ECW" chant. Nothing much to the match, more storyline enhancement than anything else.

-Match 2: Shelton Benjamin VS Stevie Richards

-Big jump in competition for Richards. Stevie counters a side headlock with a belly-to-back suplex, but gets caught with a shoulder breaker. Shelton locks in a hammerlock, and the crowd DIES. Stevie fights out, and Shelton misses a cross-body from the top. Stevie hits a side slam for two. Stevie hits a big back kick to the midsection and an enziguiri for two, which wakes up the crowd a little bit. Shelton blocks a roll-up, and hits Paydirt out of nowhere for the pin. Good start, good finish, middle was ghastly, with the long hammerlock putting the crowd to sleep.

-Shelton says there will be no stopping him in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXIV.

-LAST NIGHT: Maria's Playboy cover is unveiled.

-Kofi Kingston hits on Kelly Kelly. Layla starts some shit, leading to a catfight. No "cat fight, CAT FIIIIIIGHT!" call from Joey.

-Match 3: Kane VS James Curtis

-Chuck Palumbo (Kane's opponent on Smackdown) rides out on a motorcycle, causing a distraction. Kane finishes Curtis in seconds with a chokeslam anyway.

-RAW REBOUND: Big Show destroys a "boxer" and jaws with Floyd Mayweather.

-Joey & Tazz announce that next week, Dreamer & Delaney will get a tag title rematch, but next time, it will be contested under "Extreme Rules".

-CM Punk says Chavo is not a warrior, and that it took Vickie and Edge to make him a champion. He conveniently skips over losing clean at No Way Out. Punk says he's a champion, and will earn it for the second time tonight.

-Match 4: ECW Championship: Chavo Guerrero [c] VS CM Punk

-Big heat for Chavo. Punk answers a shove with a roundhouse kick. Punk goes to work on Chavo's arm with a hammerlock slam. Punk counters a side headlock with a back breaker. Chavo drops Punk with a European uppercut. Punk goes for a springboard clothesline, but Chavo shoves him to the floor, and we go to a commercial break.

Back from break, Chavo is working on Punk's leg. Punk fights back, but Chavo regains control with a clip. Chavo locks in a kneebar, but Punk escapes with a headscissors. Punk sends Chavo to the outside with an enziguri, and follows up with a suicide dive. Punk hits the springboard clothesline, and counters a clothesline with a powerslam for two. Punk gets a rollup for two. Punk hits the running knee and bulldog combo for two. Chavo gets a single-leg crab, but Punk gets to the ropes.

Punk's knee gives out on the GTS, but he manages to counter the 3rd Amigo into a small package for two. Chavo hits a tornado DDT for two. Chavo crotches Punk on the top rope, and hits a frog splash for the pin to retain. Really good main event.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Better than average show this week, with a decent opener and a really good main event at the end. Shelton/Stevie sucked for the most part, and I don't get the point of Kane/Curtis with the Palumbo interaction.

ECW on Sci-Fi 2/26/08

-From Tuscon, AZ

-TONIGHT'S MAIN EVENT: Winner gets an ECW Title Match Next Week: CM Punk VS Elijah Burke VS Shelton Benjamin

-Match 1 Mixed Tag Match: Kelly Kelly & Kofi Kingston VS Layla & Santino Marella

-Zero reaction for Kofi. Santino tries to do Layla's entrance. Tazz sings "Centerfold". Kelly & Kofi hit a double dropkick on Santino. Santino hits an STO and a short-arm clothesline before bowing to HUGE boos. Santino tags in Layla, who mocks Kofi, but doesn't see Kelly coming. Kelly quickly finishes with a Rocker Dropper. Nothing special, but not terrible either.

 -Video for Maria's Playboy shoot. Normally I'd have a snarky comment about how sad it is for a woman to consider this the highlight of her career, but in Maria's case, it ended up being true.

-Match 2: Mike Knox VS Stevie Richards

-Knox goes right after Stevie's throat. Knox hits a short-arm clothesline for two. Stevie comes back with kicks. Knox blocks a Stevie-T attempt, but Stevie hits a couple avalanches, and Stevie T finishes. Basically a squash until the very end.

-Tommy Dreamer tries to psych up Colin Delaney, who is mainly interested in getting his own entrance music.

-WWE reminds you: There are no shortcuts to your goals. The ad even says "No 'roids". How completely un self-aware can you get?

-Match 3: WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison VS Tommy Dreamer & Colin Delaney [Non-Title]

-Dreamer and Miz start off, and neither can get the advantage. Dreamer gets a hiptoss and clothesline on Morrison. Colin tags himself in, and Dreamer slingshots him into a tope con hilo. Colin hits a dropkick for one, but takes a vicious clothesline from Morrison to become the face-in-peril. Morrison hits a springboard elbow drop with Colin laying across Miz's knees. Miz gets in and allows Colin to make the tag. Dreamer hits an inverted DDT on Miz. Miz goes for the Reality Check, but Dreamer shoves Miz into Delaney, and hits a DDT for the win. Solid, if unspectacular tag formula match.

-Some members of the Chicago White Sox are in attendance.

-WrestleMania XXIV Press Conference video.

-Miz & Morrison argue over their loss. Lena Yada comes in to tell them that there's a rumor they will have to defend the titles next week against Dreamer & Delaney. M & M hope it's true.

-ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero comes down to ringside to provide color commentary for the main event.

-Match 4 #1 Contender's Triple Threat Match: Shelton Benjamin VS Elijah Burke VS CM Punk

-Punk gets a much bigger reaction than either of his two opponents. Shelton surprised everyone by giving Burke a roundhouse kick to the head. Punk hits a running leg lariat on Benjamin, then Burke low-bridges Benjamin. Awkward moment as Burke whips Punk into the ropes, and they mix up on what's next. Punk dumps Burke. Shelton sneaks in with Paydirt on Punk, but the ref, for some reason, stops counting at 2 3/4. Shelton & Burke clothesline each other on the floor.

After a commercial break, Punk fights with Burke over a suplex while Punk is standing over the apron, then Shelton leaps over Burke, hitting a sunset flip powerbomb on Punk on the floor. Burke baseball slides Benjamin, then hits the Outer Limits Elbow on Punk for two. Burke hits his 4UP punch on Benjamin. Burke goes up top, but has to deal with Punk, allowing Benjamin to leap to the top and throw Burke off. Benjamin hits the Dragon Whip kick on Punk for two. Punk comes back with his running knee in the corner, but Burke connects with a dropkick to the back of Punk's head for two. Burke walks into a back elbow from Benjamin, which sends him into the Go To Sleep from Punk for the pin. Good main event.

-Chavo Guerrero enters the ring and holds the title belt above his head to close the show.

-AFTER THE BELL (WWE Mobile Exclusive): After Chavo holds his belt up, he slaps Punk, who responds with a roundhouse kick to the head. Punk holds the belt before dropping it on Chavo and leaving.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not a bad show, but nothing really worth going out of your way to see either, which seems to be the case for most of these episodes.

ECW on Sci-Fi: 2/19/08

-From San Diego, CA.

-Ric Flair opens the show. Tazz kisses up a bit, then leaves the ring. Flair talks about how he doesn't plan on ever retiring. Elijah Burke comes out to tell Flair that Burke idolized Flair when Burke was a child, and that Burke, as the Vince-selected leader of the New Breed, is the man now. Shelton Benjamin interrupts that, and says that Flair was the gold standard in wrestling, but now Shelton in. Flair retorts that combined both men will never accomplished what Flair has. Burke & Benjamin go on the attack, but CM Punk runs in for the save.

-After a commercial break, ECW GM Armando Estrada tells Burke & Benjamin that they will be facing Punk & Flair tonight. Shelton starts to say something, but is cut off by...

-Match 1: Kofi Kingston VS Jason Riggs

-No reaction for Kofi's entrance, but he does get claps while he's trapped in a headlock, and the crowd claps along to his warmup before Trouble in Paradise.

-Joey interviews Kofi, who says that ECW is like paradise to him, and if there's trouble in paradise, then Kofi will take care of it.

-LAST NIGHT ON RAW: Hornswoggle had a cage match with Mr. McMahon, and has the shit kicked out of him by JBL as a handcuffed Finlay is forced to watch.

-Match 2: WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz (w/John Morrison) VS Colin Delaney (w/Tommy Dreamer)

-Miz dominates the match. Delaney lands a couple of punches. Morrison trips up Delaney, and is ejected. Miz finishes with the Reality Check anyway. Dreamer steps in to prevent M & M from attacking Delaney. He gets beat down, then M & M drop Delaney with a big double team move anyway.

-LAST NIGHT: Maria (w/help from Candice Michelle) beats Beth Phoenix so she can pose in Playboy.

-Kelly Kelly says Maria always wanted to do it (despite not being sure in storyline), and that Kelly wants to do it too.

-Match 3: Stevie Richards VS James Curtis

-Curtis goes after Richards' neck, but quickly falls to a series of kicks and the Stevie-T.

-RAW REBOUND: Big Show challenges Floyd Mayweather, who accepts.

-Match 4: CM Punk & Ric Flair VS Shelton Benjamin & Elijah Burke

-Punk & Burke start. Punk controls and tags Flair. Flair actually hits a double axe handle off the top onto Benjamin & Burke. After a commercial break, Shelton is working over Flair's leg. Flair makes the hot tag to Punk who hits the running knee in the corner on Shelton, who counters a bulldog by tossing Punk in the air. Burke hits an elevated elbow drop, and locks in a Dragon Sleeper. Burke tags Benjamin, who powerbombs Punk to the outside. Punk counters a second attempt with an enziguiri, and tags Flair. Burke misses the Elijah Express (running double-knees to the back), and Flair locks in the figure 4 for the submission. Good TV main event.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not much to this show. Three squashes and a competitive main event. Odd that there was no mention of ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero and/or his win over Punk the previous night.

ECW on Sci-Fi: 2/12/08

-From Houston, TX

-LAST WEEK: CM Punk defeated ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero in a Gulf of Mexico match. I think this is the exact same video that they aired during the No Way Out 2008 pay-per-view.

-Chavo Guerrero comes out, and wwe.com exclusive video shows him being rescued from the Gulf of Mexico. He complains that after last week he has a sinus infection, migraines, an annoying rash (which he keeps scratching at and does show up on his neck), and that he was stung by a jellyfish. Chavo says he wants the title rematch against Punk to take place tonight, but ECW GM Armando Estrada comes out and says he can't allow it to happen, but CM Punk will get a "tune up" match against Mark Henry tonight.

-LAST WEEK: Joey Styles interviewed the returning Stevie Richards. He makes his in-ring return tonight.

-Match 1: Stevie Richards VS Rory Fox

-IIRC, Fox is the same guy that was on an old MTV special about wrestling, as he was having his first matches. Quick squash. Nice reaction for Stevie. Fox is very vocal in the ring. A bunch of kicks and the Stevie-T (double underhook into an elevated DDT) finish for Richards.

-Mark Henry video.

-Match 2: Kelly Kelly VS Layla (w/Lena Yada)

-Match is shockingly decent. Kelly tries headlocks while Layla comes back with arm work. Kelly fights back, and a flying cross body gets two. Rocker dropper finishes soon after. The crowd was hot for this show, and it's helping everything. The fact that this was better and given more time than the Divas get on RAW today helped a lot too.

-Match 3: Kofi Kingston VS Mike Knox

-Knox, who was at one point getting a push, gets less offense than the jobbers Kofi has beaten. Boom drop and a slightly botched Trouble in Paradise finish for Kofi.

-Match 4: WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison (w/The Miz) VS Tommy Dreamer (w/Colin Delaney)

-Dreamer starts off with a fallaway slam and a clothesline on the floor, but a distraction by Miz allows Morrison to take control. Morrison misses a slingshot kick and crotches himself. Another Miz distraction allows Morrison to hit the flying Chuck/flash kick, but Dreamer counters the Moonlight Drive into the Dreamer DDT for the pin. Miz and Morrison dump Dreamer and demolish Delaney after the pin, finishing Colin with a Death Sentence (powerbomb/neckbreaker combo). Not bad.

-Mark Henry says his match with Punk isn't going to be a match...it's going to be a funeral. I would think he meant a murder, since someone has to be dead for there to be a funeral.

-Match 5: CM Punk VS Mark Henry

-Chavo Guerrero comes out before the match starts. Really short match as Henry overwhelms Punk with his power, but refuses to break a hold while Punk is in the ropes, and actually gets DQ'd for it. Punk manages to floor Henry with a couple kicks, then KO Chavo with the GTS afterward.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not much to say here, as it was all short matches. Nothing bad, nothing worth going out of your way to see either.

ECW on Sci-Fi 2/5/08:

-From Corpus Christie, TX

-CM Punk opens the show. He introduces video from last week of him interrupting Chavo Guerrero's championship fiesta. Punk wants to envoke his rematch clause tonight, but Chavo interrupts to tell him that the rematch will not be taking place tonight. He tells Punk not to cry, because the rematch will take place in two weeks at No Way Out. Chavo says he's going to embarrass Punk tonight. ECW GM Armando Estrada comes on the titantron, and explains that Punk & Chavo will compete tonight in a "Gulf of Mexico" match. Extreme rules apply, and the winner is the man who throws his opponent into the Gulf of Mexico.

-Match 1: Victoria & Layla (w/Lena Yada) VS Kelly Kelly & Michelle McCool

-Kelly & Layla start the match. Kelly does a nice ropes-assisted counter to wristlock before spectacularly botching a cartwheel into a back elbow. Michelle & Victoria get in, and Michelle's strikes don't look like they'd hurt anyone, save for a nice roundhouse kick she delivered while on her knees. Michelle tags Kelly. Lena trips Kelly, and Michelle decides to be a shitty tag partner, going after Layla & Lena while Victoria is hitting Kelly with the Widow's Peak and getting the pin. Match was a decent divas match except for Kelly's botch and Michelle's clotheslines.

-Joey & Tazz recap last week's Kane/Shelton match, and announce a rematch signed for Smackdown (Kane was a Smackdown wrestler, and Smackdown had a talent exchange agreement with ECW, allowing wrestlers to appear on both shows).

-Match 2: WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison (w/The Miz) VS Tommy Dreamer (w/Colin Delaney)

-Funny exchange as Joey goes over some of the things that have happened to Dreamer during his career.

Joey: We saw Tommy be suplexed ten feet off a stage, courtesy of my colleague.
Tazz: My bad.

Match is what it needed to be. Morrison hitting his flashy offense (including the breakdance legdrop, I wish he'd bring that back) and Dreamer fighting from underneath. Morrison misses a corkscrew moonsault. Dreamer gets the advantage, but a distraction from the Miz allows Morrison to hit the Moonlight Drive for the pin.

-EARLIER TODAY: Joey interviews Stevie Richards, who is returning next week from five surguries he needed to have from October to December of 2007, after suffering another neck injury. Interview includes footage of his original injury from the original ECW. Could have been the start of something good for Stevie, but since he's maybe one rung above Colin Delaney, this ended up meaning nothing. Stevie returns to the ring next week.

-Match 3: Kofi Kingston VS James Curtis

-Curtis is actually pretty decent, getting to show some nice arm work. Unfortunately, that's not something to get a crowd into a jobber squash. Kofi hits a back elbow and the Boom Drop. Curtis charges into Trouble in Paradise to finish.

-No Way Out preview. They don't include the ECW title match.

-Match 4: Gulf of Mexico Match: ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero VS CM Punk [non-title]

-They immediately go out of the ring and through the crowd. We lose sight of the match as they make their way towards the arena exit. Once outside, they incorporate a couple of passing cars. Chavo teases a frog splash off a ledge. Punk counters a suplex into the GTS, which sends Chavo into the Gulf of Mexico to give Punk the win. Interesting match, and the crowd seemed to be into it even when they made their way outside. The finish teases got loud reactions, as did Punk's win.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not a bad show. Main event was different. The divas didn't do too bad, Morrison/Dreamer was OK, and Kofi's jobber match was the best one so far.

ECW on Sci-Fi: 1/29/08

-LAST WEEK: Edge helps Chavo Guerrero win the ECW Championship from CM Punk.

-LATER TONIGHT: Chavo Guerrero's championship fiesta!

-Match 1: Kane VS Shelton Benjamin

-Kane no-sells a clothesline, and drops Shelton with one of his own to take over. Kane tries to toss Shelton over the top. Shelton skins the cat like he did last week, but Kane clotheslines him over and out. Kane follows Shelton down the aisle, and sends him back into the ring. Kane goes up top for a flying clothesline, but Shelton leaps to the top and throws Kane off. That gets a two count. Shelton targets Kane's left leg, slamming it into the ringpost before locking in a single-leg crab. Kane fights out of that, and gets a powerslam for two. Flying clothesline looks to set up a chokeslam, but Shelton gets the Dragon Whip kick. Shelton charges into a big boot, and decides enough is enough, taking a walk and getting counted out. Match was pretty good before the crappy finish.

-Kelly Kelly is up next.

-WWE SLAM OF THE WEEK BROUGHT TO YOU BY "RAMBO": Kelly Kelly wins last week's "Best Body" contest before being attacked by the other two divas.

-Match 2: Kelly Kelly VS Victoria

-Victoria dominates most of the match. Kelly gets a couple nice counters, including turning Victoria's spinning side slam into a headscissors. Widow's Peak wins this one pretty easily for Victoria. Kelly didn't look to bad in there. Layla & Leena get their licks in post-match.

-Colin Delaney has even more bandages, but he's in action next.

-Royal Rumble recap video. I've always loved MSG flipping out for Cena, then remember they're supposed to hate him and bringing the boos.

-Tazz is in the ring with Colin Delaney for our weekly recap of him getting killed the last few weeks. Tazz informs Colin that he's in a handicap match against the WWE Tag Team Champions.

-Match 3: Handicap Match: WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison VS Colin Delaney

-Colin doesn't get the benefit of the champions being forced to tag. Total destruction. Colin does manage to avoid a couple moves, but that just pissed M & M off. Reality Check from Miz, and Moonlight Drive from Morrison lead to the pin with Miz's boot and Morrison's index finger. M & M continue the assualt, but Tommy Dreamer comes out to run them off.

-Match 4: CM Punk VS Elijah Burke

-Burke is one WWE missed the boat on, and TNA is currently missing the boat on. Burke controls with a rear chinlock, but Punk escapes and hits his running knee to the face. Burke blocks the bulldog, but Punk catches Burke attempting a leapfrog, and hits the GTS for the win. Disappointing match. Good finish though.

-Preview of the Raw Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out.

-Match 5: Kofi Kingston VS Rob Eckerd

-Rob is another generic gym rat. Jobber squash. Boom drop and Trouble in Paradise finish quickly. Shorter and better than last week.

-The mariachi band warms up for Chavo's championship fiesta.

-ECW General Manager Armando Estrada introduces the new ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero. World Heavyweight Champion Edge and Vickie can't be there because Rey gave Vickie a 619 at the Royal Rumble, but Edge does appear in a pre-recorded video and presents a Chavo highlight reel. Chavo gives an "I told you so" speech before dancing to the mariachi music. One memeber of the band keeps his back to the hard camera. Eventually, that man turns around and KO's Chavo with a guitar, before revealing himself to be the former ECW Champion CM Punk. Punk stands over Chavo as the show closes.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty decent show. Still shake my head at the choice of Chavo being the one to take the ECW title off Punk. Chavo is a member of La Familia, but he just ends up being a whipping boy for whomever is feuding with Edge at the time, and him being ECW Champion is inconsequential.

ECW on Sci-Fi: 1/22/08

-LAST WEEK: Edge helps Chavo Guerrero become the #1 contender for the ECW Championship.

-New intro video and the now-familiar shared set for all three shows.

-From the University of Virginia

-Joey Styles announces that tonight Chavo Guerrero will challenge CM Punk for the ECW title.


-Match 1: Over the Top Rope Challenge: Kane VS WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz VS WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison VS Tommy Dreamer VS Shelton Benjamin

-I guess "over the top rope challenge" sounds better than "5 man battle royale". This is a preview for the Royal Rumble, which is the following Sunday. Dreamer is the first man out, naturally, via Kane. The other three attack Kane until Miz & Morrison turn on Shelton. Kane comes back and cleans house, eliminating the tag team champions, but Shelton manages to take Kane over the top and out with a headscissors to win it. Not bad.

-Kelly Kelly is shown walking backstage. The Best Body Contest is next.

-SLAM OF THE WEEK BROUGHT TO YOU BY "RAMBO": Lena Yada enters herself into the Diva Dance contest and declares herself the winner.

-Coach is the MC for the contest. Start is delayed as the Divas watch Coach dance to the musice. Kelly Kelly wins, and gets attacked by the other two.

-Match 2: Kofi Kingston VS David Owens

-Owens has the typical tough guy look; shaved head and back tattoos. He also sucks, messing up on a leg sweep and a monkey flip. Kofi hits the same spots he still uses today. Jobber is almost out of position on the Trouble in Paradise, making the finish a little awkward. Kofi looked ok.

-Backstage, Edge pyschs up Chavo, and Vickie makes a surprise appearence. She tells Chavo "the family that sticks together wins together".

-Royal Rumble "numbers" video that they do every year now.

-Joey & Tazz run down the Royal Rumble card.

-LAST FRIDAY ON SMACKDOWN: Punk & Mysterio beat Edge & Chavo when Edge hits Rey with a chair after he hits the 6-1-9 on Chavo. Hawkins & Ryder join in the beatdown.

-Tazz is in the ring with Colin Delaney, who is more bandaged up than before. Highlights of his matches the last 4 weeks are shown. Tazz asks Colin if his mom knows he's wrestling. This leads to...

-Match 3: Colin Delaney VS The Great Khali

-How do you think this went? Overhand chop, tree slam, and Khali Vice Grip end this quickly.

-LAST WEEK: Edge helps Chavo beat Punk.

-Edge joins the commentators for the ECW title match.

-Match 4: ECW Championship: CM Punk [c] VS Chavo Guerrero

-Tony Chimel announces that this match is now no-DQ. Match has a little bit of heat, probably because it's a title match. Punk tries to take off one of the turnbuckle pads right away, but Chavo takes control and does it himself. Chavo drops Punk midsection-first on the ringsteps. Chavo hits the Three Amigos, but Punk moves out of the way when Chavo appears to be setting up the Frog Splash. Punk launches Chavo face-first into the exposed steel and hits the Go To Sleep, but Edge runs in and spears Punk, allowing Chavo to get the pin and the title. Match was too short to amount to much, and putting the title on career Jobber to the Stars Chavo really devalued the title, IMO.

-La Familia (Edge, Chavo, Vickie, Hawkins, & Ryder) poses in the ring as the show closes.

-Not a bad show. Setup the Rumble decently. Title match should have been on the PPV, and Chavo being in the Rumble while ECW champion killed any illusion that might have been left that it was anywhere near the level of the other two world titles.

ECW on Sci-Fi 1/15/08

So I got bored last night and looked around Hulu.Com, and noticed that the site appears to have every episode from this one until the last one. Since I haven't seen any of them, I figured it would be a good opportunity to add more content to the blog, so I'll be going through all these shows...

-From Birmingham, AL

-Hosts are Joey Styles & Tazz

-Tonight is the ECW Debut of World Heavyweight Champion Edge's talk show, "The Cutting Edge", and that starts the show. Edge plugs his world title defense VS Rey Mysterio at the Royal Rumble. Edge says the match won't be competitive because of what happened on Smackdown. A video airs, showing Rey beating Chavo Guerrero, but then taking a 3-on-1 beating at the hands of Edge, Curt Hawkins, & Zach Ryder.

Edge calls out his guest, ECW Champion CM Punk. Edge asks Punk who he's really beaten, noting that his recent victories over Chavo have come via count out and DQ. Edge asks Punk what would happen if Chavo were to challenge him for a third time. Punk says he'd accept. Punk says not only can he beat Chavo anytime, but Punk can beat Edge too. Edge doesn't take it too seriously, and just as things look like they'll get heated, Chavo interrupts.

Chavo challenges Punk for tonight. That leads to a 2-on-1 beatdown on Punk. Punk's shoulder looks to be injured after he's rammed into the ringpost. Good opening segment. After 3+ years, it's weird to see A.) babyface CM Punk and B.) Chavo being taken seriously as a challenger for anything. Although it was weird to see Chavo as a challenger then too.

-ECW ad during ECW. It's like they're on TNN all over again.

-Replay of the final moments of the opening segment.

-Edge is shown walking out backstage.

-Match 1: WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison & The Miz VS The Highlanders (Rory & Robbie McCallister) [Non-Title]
 
-To illustrate the state of the Smackdown/ECW tag team division at this time, the champions main challengers are Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore. Short match as Rory is face-in-peril for a bit for Robbie gets the tag and cleans house, but soon falls victim to the Reality Check (knee lift/neckbreaker combo) from the Miz for the pin. Short and sweet.

-Kofi "the phony Jamacan" Kingston vignette. Some asshole kicks sand in some kid's face, so Kofi beats his ass. Kofi makes his debut next week.

-LAST WEEK: A diva dance-off between Kelly Kelly and Layla. The ring announcer Leina Yada enters, and naturally declares herself the winner.

-Kelly comes out to announce that in ECW'S HD debut, there will be a "best body" competition between herself, Leina, and Layla. Kelly shows herself off in a skimpy bikini.

-Tazz is in the ring with a very bandaged up Colin Delaney. A replay of him getting killed by Shelton Benjamin, Big Daddy V, and Mark Henry airs. This leads to...

-Match 2: Colin Delaney VS Kane
 
-Kane's amused look at Delaney as he puts his fists up is tremendous. Quick squash (no shit), and Kane finishes with the chokeslam. It was cool seeing a local Western NY guy get a shot at WWE. Colin is a pretty charismatic guy. I remember going to an NWA Upstate TV taping, and some kid dropped Skittles off the floor...so Colin ate them.

-The trainer makes sure CM Punk wants to wrestle tonight.

-LAST NIGHT ON RAW: Jeff Hardy lays out WWE Champion Randy Orton, then gives him a swanton off the stage. This one segment made people really want Jeff to be WWE Champion. Good thing it didn't happen, as Jeff got his dumb ass suspended before WrestleMania.

-Armageddon DVD ad.

-Joey gives an update on the condition of Jeff & Randy, starting a run down of the Royal Rumble card.

-Match 3: Shelton Benjamin VS Nunzio
 
-Extended squash that the crowd barely reacts to. Shelton tosses Nunzio around and pounds away. Nunzio comes back with a dropkick. Shelton catches Nunzio in mid-air and powerbombs him into the corner. Jumping complete shot (I forget what Shelton calls it) finishes. Needed more Shelton manhandling Nunzio and less Shelton punching Nunzio.

-Match 4: ECW Champion CM Punk VS Chavo Guerrero [Non-Title]


-If Chavo wins, he gets another title shot. Edge comes back out to join in on commentary. Punk continues to sell the shoulder injury. Commentary spends the first part of the match talking about Edge VS Rey instead of this match. Punk backdrops Chavo over the top and out, so of course there's a commercial break.

Back from break, Punk lands some kicks as Joey & Tazz aren't aware that we're back from the commercial break. Chavo starts to work Punk's arm over. Punk gets an enziguiri, but Chavo comes back with a dropkick to the injured shoulder. Chavo keeps working over Punk's injured shoulder as the crowd doesn't react to anything he does. Punk gets some offense to wake the crowd up, but Chavo sends Punk to the outside, and Edge takes the opportunity to blast Punk in the back of the head with the World title belt. Punk is counted out, and Chavo is the #1 contender to the ECW title. Match was technically fine and Punk did a good job of selling the shoulder, but no one was buying Chavo as a possible champion.

-Logic says that this would lead to a CM Punk title defense over Chavo at the Royal Rumble before moving on to another challenger, but no one's ever accused WWE of being completely logical...

-An OK show, but this is the time when the ECW title really became devalued (this will be illustrated shortly) and the show started to become Sunday Night Heat with a championship. None of the matches were particularly good, and I could never get over Chavo Guerrero being given this spot. The fact that he did pretty much jack shit after his ECW run showed what he meant to the company.