ECW: From Bankruptcy to ... Something?

[Halfway House]

Not at all, my guy.

However, if you ask the casual fan what they think ECW was, we both know what they'd answer.

 

[Hoss]

I prefer not to think about casuals.

 

[King Kota]

Homicide would be perfect in ECW very good show,

 

[Halfway House]

Thursday February 9th, 2001
Live from the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, New York
Extreme Championship Wrestling proudly presents: Hardcore TV
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*We see the cold open video package, featuring clips of Sunday'sPay Per View event. The video ends with Glenn Gilbertti's announcement that Rhino and Raven will be facing each other at the end of this evening for the vacant ECW World Heavyweight Championship*

*As soon as the introductions end, the theme song of Paul Heyman began to blare throughout the ballroom. Heyman thanks the fans for coming and announces that we're going to open the show with a monumental four way dance match for the vacated ECW Tag Team Championship!*

Match One: Danny Doring and Roadkill vs The Unholy Alliance [Tajiri and Mikey Whipreck] vs The Backseat Boyz [Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere] vs Charlie and Russ Hass - ECW Tag Team Championship

Winner: Tajiri and Mikey Whipreck, your new ECW Tag Team Champions!

*After this match, we cut to a backstage vignette. The Full Blooded Italians, Glen Gilbertti and the two women from yesterday are sitting at a table playing poker. There's a questionable white powder underneath the nose of Gilbertti, but that's neither here nor there. They're approached by Colt Cabana, who is doing his best impression of the classic film the Godfather to try to gain a spot in their ranks. After pretending to be interested in this proposition, Glenn orders for someone off-camera to handle the lightwork. Out of nowhere, Johnny Stamboli appears to powerbomb Cabana through the table. The F.B.I takes turns stomping at Cabana before walking away, proud of what they have done.*

Match Two: Abyss vs Sabu

As one would expect, this match is a bloodbath full of barbed wire, light tubes and even thumb tacks. Sabu fought his hardest, but, Abyss was able to put away the Homicidal, Suicidal, Death Defying Extremist.

Winner: Abyss!

*We cut backstage to see Homicide approaching Super Crazy. Homicide says that since he wasn't pinned at Guilty as Charged, he deserves a shot at Super Crazy's television championship. This segment ends with Super Crazy telling Homicide that if he can defeat a hand-picked opponent tonight, Crazy will give him the opportunity at the next Pay Per View event.*

*As soon as the previous segment ends, we cut to two tall, muscular men lifting weights backstage. They introduce themselves as "The Prototype" John Cena and "The System" Jon Heidenrich. These guys are basically the antithesis of ECW and they're here to make money, lift weights and get some chicks, they don't care about the fans.*

Match Three: Nova vs Teddy Hart

Both of these individuals are considered to be highly innovative talents, which should, in theory, make for a great contest. In the end, the rookie Hart isn't able to get the job done and Nova picks up the 'W'.

Winner: Nova!

Match Four: Homicide vs Kid Kash

With his championship aspirations on the line, Homicide is able to defeat Kid Kash.

Winner: Homicide.

*We cut to a backstage promo with Rob Van Dam who discusses being attacked by Raven Sunday night. Rob says that first and foremost, nobody flies higher than RVD and that he'll be coming for Raven next week, regardless of the result of the main event.*

Main Event: Raven vs Rhino - ECW Championship

This is a back and forth brawl throughout the Hammerstein Ballroom that manages to keep the crowd invested. The finish came when two men with black hoods over their head appeared from underneath the ring and took turns beating Rhino with kendo sticks, which led to Raven being able to connect with the Raven Effect and become your ECW Champion. After the victory, Raven put a leash and collar on both hooded individuals and led them to the back.

Winner: Your new ECW Champion, Raven!

*Paul Heyman makes his way out from behind the curtain and runs down the way that Raven won the championship. It's announced that Rhino will get his chance for revenge next week when he's allowed to pick his own partner to face those two hooded figures in a tag team match*​

 

[Chris]

Pitbulls return?

Also I LOVE Cena and Heidenreich's gimmick

 

[Halfway House]

Thursday February 16th, 2001
Live from the Grand Ballroom in Manhattan, New York
Extreme Championship Wrestling proudly presents: ECW Hardcore TV! (Week 2)
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*We get a small cold open video package, which eventually cuts to static as Raven's theme begins to blare throughout the PA system of the ballroom. Raven makes his way to the ring, accompanied by the two hooded figures, who are still being led to the ring by leash and collar. Raven discusses his victory over Rhino last week and his brutal assault on Rob Van Dam at Guilty is Charged. There's no mention made of the indenties of his acolytes. Raven says that if Rob Van Dam wants his 'revenge', then he'll meet Raven at the balcony later tonight. The lights in the arena go out and by the time they're back on, Raven and his acolytes are gone.*

*Following this, we cut back to Joey Styles, Joel Gertner and Cyrus. There's a huge announcement, as Joey Styles informs the fans that Glen Gilbertti and Paul Heyman have brokered a deal between Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) of Japan and ECW. This deal is to exchange talents and will give wrestling fans in the United States the opportunity to see international superstars such as Masato Tanaka, Hayabusa, Hido and Junji bring their own brand of wrestling to ECW. This partnership goes into effect immediately, as it's announced that Hido will be taking on Spike Dudley!*

Match one: Hido (Hideo Takayama) vs Spike Dudley

This match is back and forth and we see a good bit of weapon usage. At one point in the contest we see Hido cover a 2x4 in gasoline and set it on fire. When he's going to hit Spike in the head with this, Balls Mahoney runs down to ringside to plead Hido to not harm his friend any further. Hido appears to give into reason and drop the 2x4, only to throw a fireball into the face of Balls Mahoney. This is followed up by Junji Tanaka and Onryo, two other FMW superstars, hitting the ring and helping with the beatdown on Spike Dudley. Eventually, Spike is piledriven through a glass table, which allows Hido to get the victory.

Winner: Hido!

*Backstage, there's a cameraman inside of the office of Glenn Gilbertti. Glenn informs us that Heyman's on a business trip in Mexico, discussing a partnership with another promotion, but the show much go on and the Emperor of Extreme, Glenn Gilbertti knows just what to do. He hypes up his alliance with the Full Blooded Italians, who he claims have been taking the world by storm ever since they allowed him to step in as their mouthpiece. Tonight, we'll be seeing Johnny, Guido and Mamaluke taking on Super Crazy and two of his friends. Homicide will be the special guest referee.*

Match Two: Nova vs CM Punk

Much like last week, it appears that Nova is going to be the gatekeeper for the new talents coming into ECW. CM Punk, though only in his first year of his career, has a cult following on the independent circuit, but that's come to an end now that he has signed an exclusive contract with ECW. The match is back and forth but in the end Nova picks up the win.

Winner: Nova!

*After the match, Nova offers a handshake to Punk. Though the handshake is accepted, Punk quickly reveals his true intentions by spitting in the face of Nova before roundhouse kicking him. Punk then positions him in the corner before climbing the top rope with him and hitting a Pepsi Plunge*

*We cut to the parking lot where we see a a 1995 honda civic pulling up. There's loud alternative rock music blaring (probably the Offspring, tbh). When the doors open, we see John Cena and Jon Heidenrich climb out, yelling franticly like a bunch of jocks at a High School football game. Jon reminds Cena of that time they were on the football team together, Cena reminds Heidenrich that he used to be the best quarterback in the nation. They scope two female fans outside of the arena and give them keys to the hotel room, saying that they can come visit them tonight after they win their debut match*

Match Three: The Syndicate ("The Prototype" John Cena, "The System" Jon Heidenrich") vs The Haas Brothers (Charlie, Russ)

Unfortunately for the very talented Haas brothers, this match is a squash. John Cena picks up the win for his team after hitting a Death Valley Driver at the four minute mark.

Winners: The System!

*After the match, they celebrate in the crowd with fans that clearly hate them and keep throwing trash at them before making their way backstage*

Match Four: The Full Blooded Italians (Stamboli, Guido, Mamaluke) vs Super Crazy, Psicosis and Juventud Guerrera

This match serves as the in-ring debuts for Stamboli, Psicosis and Juventud. Homicide is the special guest referee here to further his rivalry with Super Crazy. This is a really fast paced contest which comes to a close with Homicide hits Super Crazy with a vertebreaker, allowing Stamboli to follow up with a sit-out powerbomb for a fast three count. The contest also featured Gilbertti and his prostitutes shouting orders from ringside.

Winners: The Full Blooded Italians!

Match Five: Rhino and Abyss vs Raven's Acolytes (???,???)

Rhino is out for revenge tonight. He chose Abyss after his showcase against Sabu, which was an absolute bloodbath. Abyss plans to start the match with his trademark weapon, a 2x4 filled with nails, in his hands. As soon as the bell rings, Abyss immediately hits Rhino with gut with it, signifying that he had no true intentions of teaming up with Rhino tonight. This is followed by a beat-down on Rhino before finally, Abyss covers the man beast for the three count.

Winner: Raven's Acolytes!

*Following this contest, Joey Styles makes his way to the ring and urges the fans to leave before Rob Van Dam comes looking for Raven. We go to a quick commercial break and the fans are escorted from the building. We see a stack of tables that's about 10 tables high placed beneath the balcony that Raven's located at and there are many assorted weapons placed onto the balcony as well.*

Show Closer: Rob Van Dam gets retribution?

*Rob Van Dam made his way up to the rafters Raven informed him of earlier with a steel chair in hand. The two fought back and forth, hitting each other with everything from chais to trash cans, 2x4s, light tubes and even a fire extinguisher. They brawl back and forth before Raven's acolytes finally appear to give the ECW Champion the upper hand. Raven shouts something and the camera cuts down to the stack of tables, which has now been set ablaze by Abyss and James Mitchell. Without any care in the world, Raven would throw RVD through this stack of tables, guaranteeing that the Whole F'N show won't get revenge tonight.*​

 

[Chris]

How did your broadcasters allow this

 

[Halfway House]

It's ECW, would you expect any less?

 

[Chris]

They did significantly less than most people think tbh most of that crazy hardcore shit came later in CZW and stuff. Not criticizing you for doing it or anything, booking crazy hardcore promotions are fun af.

 

[Halfway House]

That's my plan, taking it in the ridiculous CZW direction. It's not gonna' be something that happens every show, thankfully. The plan is to introduce more gimmicks, like I did with Cena and Heidenrich but also have good technical wrestling and hardcore wrestling too.

 

[King Kota]

I get the feeling I can see The System as neo Nazis

 

[Kiffy Lube]

Heidenrich and Cena are already better than LOD's attempt at bein' a member of LOD.

 

[Vegeta]

I love this shit with Cena and Heidenrich

 

[Halfway House]

Thursday February 23rd, 2001
Live, From the Prestigious 2300 Arena in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania
Extreme Championship Wrestling presents: Hardcore TV (Week 3)

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((Locker Room Incidents: Joey Styles organised a poker game, Road Agent Ted DiBiase has taken John Cena underneath the wing as his protege))

*The show opens with a small recap of the situation involving Raven and Rob Van Dam from the prior week. We are informed that Rob Van Dam was rushed to a 'local medical facility' and he was not cleared to compete. Therefore, Rob Van Dam will not be here on Hardcore TV this week. Joey Styles informs us that Glenn Gilbertti has a special announcement. We cut to the ring, where Glenn is already standing. The acting commissioner of ECW once again runs through the events of last week before booking Raven vs Sabu as the main event of tonight's Hardcore TV contest. This isn't the only thing that Glenn announces, as it's made known that at the next Pay-Per-View event, we'll be seeing a 5v5 match with Team Raven taking on Team Rob Van Dam. Next week, we will start finding out the members of the teams.*

*We get the opening video package and accompanying pyro before the camera cuts to the ring, where both members of the Syndicate are already standing inside of the squared circle. (To be more specific, Heidenrich is curling dumbbells while John Cena is doing push-ups. To the surprise of many people, Bill Alfonso is standing in the middle of the ring with both of them, putting them on the microphone. He announces that they're starting the Syndicates open challenge, calling for anyone from the crowd to hop the barricade. IWA Mid-South star Tarek the Great jumps the barricade, making his ECW debut and accepting the open challenge.*

Match One: The Syndicate (Cena, Heidenrich) w/Bill Alfonso vs Tarek the Great

This is a quick beatdown, with Cena doing push-ups in the middle of the ring while Heidenrich handles the heavy work. When Cena sees that the end is near, he stands up and hits Tarek the Great with a Death Valley Driver before getting the three count.

Winners: The Syndicate!

*We cut backstage to Colt Cabana, who is once again dressed in a three piece suit and a fedora. He talks (in his strongest New Jersey accent) about the beatdown that the Full Blooded Italians gave him the other week. Cabana says that next week, he'll have friends here with him to help him handle the Full Blooded Italians*

Match Two: The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid, Johnny Kashmere) vs Danny Doring and Amish Roadkill

This is a pretty back and forth contest with Roadkill getting in some impressive offense for a bigger guy. While Doring is holding a c hair, Acid hits a huge superkick and knocks the chair into the head of Doring before getting the three count.

Winners: The Backseat Boyz!

*We get a backstage segment with Hido, Junji Tanaka and Onryo. The latter two stand in the background while Hido talks about his victory over Spike Dudley last week. Hido says that if that's the best ECW has to offer, he doesn't know why FMW would have partnered up with them. Next, we see Ultimo Dragon appear, who announces that ECW has also partnered with his promotion, Toryumon Mexico! Next week, we'll see some of his talents debut and they're looking to go to war with team FMW. How will ECW get involved in this cross-promotional battle?*

Match Three: Abyss w/The Sinister Minister vs Balls Mahoney

Like every Abyss match we've seen so far, this is a total bloodbath. We see some tables, barbed wire and thumbtacks. Fire is teased, though it doesn't come into play. Abyss eventually hits the Black Hole Slam for the three count.

Winner: Abyss!

Match Four: Homicide vs Mikey Whipreck

We cut directly into the next match, which isn't a long one. Homicide hits a big vertbreaker three minutes after the opening bell, which leads to him being able to secure the victory.

Winner: Homicide!

*After the match, Super Crazy hits the ring. Crazy says that he knows Homicide has already earned his TV title opportunity, but he wants to take it to the next level and make it a two out of three falls match. He says that if Homicide can defeat him for the championship, he won't ask for a rematch as long as Homicide has the title. Homicide agrees to these terms and the match is made official!*

*We see CM Punk sitting in a locker room backstage. He talks about the previous generation and says that the old guard needs to make room for the next generation. Punk talks about the rampant alcohol use and drug use in the ECW locker room and says that being Straight Edge means that he's better than everyone else in the locker room. Next week, He'll prove that when he goes one-on-one with Joey Matthews, who he says has a known cocaine problem.*

Match Five: The Full Blooded Italians (Stamboli, Guido, Mamaluke) vs Kid Kash, Nova, Tajiri

This is a good contest which ends when one of Glenl Gilbertti's prostitutes catches Kid Kash off-guard by flashing him. This allows Little Guido to get a roll-up for the three count. Gilbertti hits the ring and says he's the boss and he can do what he wants, so, Kid Kash is the new head custodian and Nova is the new head of concessions.

Winners: The Full Blooded Italians!

Main Event: Raven w/ Raven's Acolytes vs Sabu

This is a bloodbath, much like Abyss vs Balls Mahoney was earlier. Raven connects with the Raven Effect through a glass table

Winner: Raven!

*After the match, we see Rhino hit the ring and take out Raven's Acolytes. Before Rhino can get revenge for RVD, Raven exits the ring and makes his way up the entrance ramp. Rhino teases unmasking Raven's Acolytes before the lights go out in the arena. When the lights come back on, Rhino's laying on the mat in a pool of his own blood with Abyss standing over him. Surely, these two will have to cross paths and I think it's gonna' be sooner rather than later*

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Next week on ECW:

- Team FMW vs Team Toryumon
- CM Punk vs Joey Matthews
- Hardcore TV debut of Samoa Joe
- Rob Van Dam Returns
- More to be announced.

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ECW Living Dangerously Card:
Team Raven vs Team Rob Van Dam - 5v5 Elimination match
Homicide vs Super Crazy (c) - ECW Television Championship
Tajiri and Mikey Whipreck, Tag Team Championship Invitiational
- More to be announced next week.​

 

[Kiffy Lube]

buryin' Tarek The Great like that