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Event: ECW "The Night the Line was Crossed"
Date: February 5, 1994
Location: ECW Arena, Philadelphia; Pennsylvania.
The bingo hall. The home of what could be described as the most unlikely
to be spoken of with a virtual sense of romance, wrestling promotion ever.
Some of us lived ECW from day one, even from here in England. I followed
Tri-State Wrestling via the magazines from 1991 or so onwards, and then
from Eastern to Extreme Championship Wrestling. ECW was like my hometown
soccer team, I couldn't imagine life without it. And now, all that's left
are the memories.... But god, what great memories.
I quiz literally any wrestler friend of mine who's ever worked at that
infamous Bingo Hall (it justifies capital letters, to me), on what it's
like. And to see ECW rise up from really small, to ground breaking, to
even doing pay per views; was incredible. Sadly though, when they started
to get into ppv's and national television; you always had to wonder how
far away the end was - because this wasn't what ECW was about. And so
it played that way.
This is a video review, but it's also a public declaration of something
that became and still is a huge part of my life - ECW. It won't be topped,
it won't be beaten, it won't be duplicated, or replicated - and it's special
now and always will be to a lot of people. You didn't need to work there
to feel that camaraderie, that spirit and attitude - you only needed to
watch and 'get it'. This review is for those who never saw the 'early
days' of ECW, or those who remember fondly looking and thinking that this
was something refreshingly different.
Anyways, on with the video - Tod Gordon does the decent thing at the beginning,
and informs people that ECW 'isn't for everyone'. What a nice man.
Sal Bellomo VS Mr Hughes (w/Jason).
Squash match of sorts, Bellomo is over with the crowd mind you. But this
was the kind of audience where the 'jobber' is as appreciated as the 'name'.
As long as you were giving your best, that rough Philly crowd had respect
for you. Mr Hughes was always pretty much beyond help though, and this
was an unspectacular opener. * 1/2 out of five stars.
The Sandman & Tommy Cairo VS The Pitbull and Rockin' Rebel.
Sandman pre-cigarettes and alcohol, is still something to behold in his
way. If ever a character change did someone good (if not physically),
it was him. For Tommy Cairo, read talented guy who never really made it
sadly. The Pitbull is Gary Wolfe, for those curious; before his tag team
days. And Rockin' Rebel is my buddy, who was in the previously mentioned
incarnation of Tri State Wrestling. Rebel kind of holds this together,
as he's the veteran of the match; and this isn't a bad match because of
that. Not awesome, but still better in some ways than a good few things
you'd have found at that point in time in other promotions. ** out of
five stars.
The Bruise Brothers VS The Public Enemy.
I always loved the Public Enemy, though in recent years they'd gone sadly
downhill. As for the Bruise Brothers, those Harris boys never even impressed
me back then; but I guess that's neither here nor there. It's rather bizarre
not to see hands waving and crowds dancing to the Public Enemy, but it's
a good way to see their beginnings as a tag team. A wild brawl, and rather
enjoyable. ** 1/2 out of five stars.
Tommy Dreamer VS Jimmy Snuka.
The man who most see as synonymous with ECW, Tommy Dreamer. And the legend
known as Jimmy Snuka. It should have made for a good match. Problem is,
Tommy was a pretty boy at this point who the ECW crowds HATED; and Jimmy
decided that stalling and slowing the match down was the way to go. Tommy
kicking out of the 'Superfly Splash' was a moment, that at that point
was quite a shocker; though perhaps oversold by a not quite great yet
Joey Styles on commentary. Two more splashes by Snuka, and Tommy is bleeding
from the mouth which is a good dramatic effect. I'm giving this ** because
I like the guys involved, and the ending part is good even if Snuka's
stalling wasn't.
Kevin Sullivan & The Tazmaniac VS The Sheik & Pat Tanaka.
This is when you realise you've been watching wrestling a long time. The
Tazmaniac. If you've not seen a younger Taz (z), then you must. It's as
simple as that. For no other reason than it's quite surreal. And it's
also really sad to see what happened when he went to the WWF/E, after
all those killer promos in later ECW days. Still, that's probably what
caused it so.... Anyways, Sullivan and The Sheik have the usual brawl
and gouge outside the ring as Tazmaniac and Pat Tanaka do the in-ring
thing. A shame about the ending, with the fireball from Sheik at Taz coming
virtually out of nowhere for the pin by Tanaka. ** stars out of five.
JT Smith VS Mike Awesome.
The match that made Mike Awesome a star. And the match that should have
got JT Smith a lot more than it did, though his stint in the FBI was pretty
classic for those with a long and obscure memory. Awesome starts strong,
with a just incredible plancha that pretty much makes Smith part of the
arena floor. Thing is..... after a couple of minutes of downright squashing
him, Awesome falls prey to a small package from literally parts unknown
by JT Smith; and loses the match. And then the fun begins. Awesome powerbombs
the referee twice, and DAMN they look stiff. He then goes up to the top
rope, and it collapses. Awesome is furious, the crowd has a new god; and
JT Smith could probably write a book on selling moves properly and convicingly
at this point. **** out of five stars. Not a great wrestling match in
the traditional sense, but it HAS to be seen.
ECW World Title - Shane Douglas VS Sabu, winner meets Terry Funk.
This one is a 60 minute classic, which turns into a three way dance -
and pretty much broke the idea of three way matches to promoters everywhere.
I'm not fond of these matches, but if done right then they're good - and
this is the original, and most likely the best by far. It's also quite
amusing, for the more obscure amongst us; to see a young Mikey Whipwreck
at ringside as part of the ring crew.
On the down side, Sabu isn't too hot at this point from a pure wrestling
perspective; and Shane Douglas is no brawler. But then again, how can
you complain when the match gives you such new spots as the three way
sleeper? Just another example of how ECW was groundbreaking.
Though, if someone wants to tell me even NOW why the Rotten's, Ian and
Axl; came down to the ring and attacked Douglas and Sabu - then please
do. Joey Styles can't explain it, and god only knows I can't either. Sabu
fights his way back to the locker rooms with them, and emerges without
them; so I guess whatever purpose was there it had been served.
Anyways, you know know the result - a sixty minute time limit draw. The
audience knows it's seen something new, and shows it's appreciation. And
it gets **** from me. And then there's the true coup de grace, the post
match interviews - worth the price of the tape alone on SO many levels.
Highlights include Terry Funk verbally absuing WCW, and putting his opponents
over. Then Paul.E. and Sabu come out, Paul is typical classic Paul; and
Sabu is convicing as hell as the madman/psycho/lunatic being held down
and restrained.
Then it's the punchline, so to speak; as Shane Douglas comes out and demands
to be the champion and crowned there and then due to his being the only
one not stretchered out during the match. Terry Funk, in classic Funk
style; manages to make Douglas look utterly stupid by literally giving
him the ECW title to shut him up. Which Shane then refuses angrily, realising
he's looking dafter by the minute; and the two brawl to end the tape.
The promotion may be gone - but ECW will always live on in spirit and
attitude. It 'wasn't for everyone', but it sure as hell was for me, and
many others that will always get misty eyed over a small promotion in
tough Philly; that called a Bingo Hall it's home and will never truly
die.
Peter Staniforth.
www.pswrestling.net
Peter is a UK based sports journalist, for www.pwbts.com, www.wrestlingdotcom.com, www.wrestlingclothesline.com, www.bgwwrestling.com, www.prowrestlingdaily.com, and the exclusive WWE writer for www.ukevents.net.
Peter has written for Bill Apter's "Total Wrestling" magazine, the well respected US based newsletter 'Wrestling Then And Now'; and also written press releases for the UK's WWE Euro Shop merchandise company. He was also mentioned on the credits of the cult wrestling simulation game by Adam Ryland - EWR 4.0.
Peter works for Revolution British Wrestling (www.revolutionbritishwrestling.co.uk) and UCW (www.ucw-wrestling.co.uk) in a Talent Relations capacity, and also various USA based indy promotions. If you are a wrestler either USA or UK based, and looking for more bookings; please contact Peter.
Peter has written reviews for many wrestling video tape traders, who
come highly recommended by him - including www.simania.co.uk, www.modtrom.com
(the official production team for Jersey All Pro Wrestling), www.ruffneckwrestlingvideos.co.uk,
www.violentjtapes.com, www.a1wrestlingvideos.com, and many more.
