Rebooking the Rebirth of ECW (2006)

[K-Fabe]

Following the success of One Night Stand 2005, WWE decided to bring back ECW as its third brand. One Night Stand 2006 marked the official rebirth of ECW — but in reality, the show quickly failed to live up to the original and to the expectations set by those nostalgic PPVs.

This is my “what if?” — what if Vince McMahon allowed ECW to stand as a true alternative, letting more of the original’s raw essence shine through?

Welcome to Rebooking the Rebirth of ECW

ECW One Night Stand 2006
June 11, 2006 – Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City

Singles Match
Tazz defeated Jerry Lawler

Singles Match
Kurt Angle defeated Randy Orton

Tag Team Match
The F.B.I. (Little Guido & Tony Mamaluke) defeated Tajiri & Super Crazy

World Heavyweight Championship – Extreme Rules Match
Rey Mysterio (c) vs Sabu ended in a No Contest

Hardcore Match
Edge, Mick Foley & Lita defeated Terry Funk, Tommy Dreamer & Beulah McGillicutty

Extreme Rules Match
Balls Mahoney defeated Masato Tanaka

WWE Championship – Extreme Rules Match
Rob Van Dam defeated John Cena (c)​

ECW Episode 1 Preview​

Extreme is back!
No matches have been announced yet, but expect plenty of fallout from One Night Stand 2006.

Heyman to crown RVD as champion?
At One Night Stand, Rob Van Dam defeated John Cena to capture the WWE Championship. Paul Heyman previously promised he’d crown RVD as the new ECW World Heavyweight Champion if he was victorious — so can we expect the crowning of a champion to kick off the new ECW era? And what happens now to the WWE Title?

Kurt Angle & Big Show to make their mark?
Two of the biggest names to join the ECW roster — Kurt Angle and The Big Show — made their presence felt at One Night Stand. Both men will no doubt want to make an immediate impact on the premiere episode of ECW. How will the Originals respond?

Are the Originals united?
The ECW faithful rallied together at One Night Stand, but will they stand as one under the new brand? With icons like Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, and Sabu back in action, it remains to be seen whether old rivalries will resurface — or if they’ll unite against the “new breed” joining ECW.

Stay tuned for the premier episode of ECW!

 

[K-Fabe]

ECW Episode 1​

June 13th, 2006
Hammerstein Ballroom – New York City

​

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Opening Segment​

The camera pans across the Hammerstein Ballroom as fans chant “E-C-Dub! E-C-Dub!” Then the shot switches to reveal Paul Heyman standing in the ring, soaking up the atmosphere. In one hand he holds a microphone, and tucked under his other arm is a title belt hidden inside a black velvet sack.

“One of a Kind” hits, and Rob Van Dam makes his entrance to a thunderous ovation. He swaggers to the ring with the WWE Championship around his waist. Inside the ring, he embraces Heyman before climbing the turnbuckle. Raising both arms, he points his thumbs towards himself as the crowd chants in rhythm — “R! V! D!” He soaks it in before hopping down to join Heyman in the centre of the ring.

HEYMAN: “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honour and privilege to welcome you to the premiere episode of ECW!”

The crowd chant “E-C-Dub! E-C-Dub!” again as Heyman and RVD share smug smiles.

HEYMAN: “It’s also my pleasure to stand in this ring with the man who defeated John Cena at One Night Stand, and in doing so become the WWE Champion. And just as I promised, it fills my heart with joy to award that man with the belt I always knew he would someday, somehow, hold — the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.”

Heyman removes the belt from the velvet sack and presents it to RVD, who lifts it high to a roar of approval.

RVD: “It’s such an honour to hold this belt. This is the pinnacle of my career, and I promise I’ll do everything I can to be a worthy champion.”

HEYMAN: “What about the other one?”

RVD: “This one,” tapping the ECW title, “means everything to me. And this one, Paul…” tapping the WWE title, “well, I think I’ll keep this one too — ’coz look, this one spins!”

RVD spins the WWE Championship and grins goofily. Suddenly — “WELL… WELL, IT’S THE BIG SHOW!” — hits, and both men turn toward the entrance as Big Show makes his way out to a mixed reaction.

BIG SHOW: “Hey Paul, since you’re just giving titles out, I thought maybe I could have one too?”

Heyman frowns as the crowd jeer Big Show — but the mood changes when Kurt Angle’s remixed Medal theme hits. He strides down to the ring, grabs the mic from Show, and speaks with intensity.

KURT ANGLE: “Rob, congratulations on your victory — despite what some may think.” He eyes Big Show. “You deserved it. But now, as a double champion, you’ve got the biggest target on your back — not just in ECW, but all of WWE. And you can bet this wrestling machine…” he jabs a thumb into his chest “…is coming after you.”

Before anyone can respond, “Huka Blues” hits — Sabu emerges to a huge pop, brushing past outstretched hands. He climbs into the ring, snatches the mic from Angle, and stares around.

SABU: …

Sabu shrugs — then smashes the mic into Angle’s skull! The crowd erupts as a brawl breaks out. RVD goes after Big Show while Sabu continues his assault on Angle. The ECW originals send both men tumbling through the ropes. Heyman collects the discarded microphone and leans over the ropes.

HEYMAN: “Gentlemen, welcome to ECW. Now why don’t you go backstage, collect yourselves — and then come back out here for tonight’s main event! It’ll be Kurt Angle & Big Show versus the team of the homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death-defying maniac, Sabu, and his partner — the whole f’n show, and the new ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Rob! Van! Dam!”

The crowd chant along with him and then switch to chanting “E-C-Dub! E-C-Dub!” as Angle and Show glare back toward the ring.

---

Match 1 – Al Snow vs. Stevie Richards​

“What Does Everybody Want?!” hits and the crowd chant “Head! Head! Head!” as Al Snow makes his entrance with his mannequin head. This is followed up by “I’ll Show You, You’ll See.” and his opponent Stevie Richards comes out.

JOEY STYLES: “Two ECW originals kicking off a new era — and both would love to claim the first victory.”

The match is a back-and-forth contest that quickly spills outside the ring. Both men use the environment to their advantage. A steel chair comes into play, but the referee neither counts them out nor disqualifies either man — making it clear that matches on ECW will be under Extreme Rules. The action return to the ring, and the end comes when Richards swings at Snow with a chair, but he ducks and kicks Richards in the mid section, causing him to drop the weapon. Snow then delivers his finisher, the Snow Plow, onto the steel chair, and picks up the pin fall victory.

---

Promo – Vengeance​

A video promo airs for WWE’s upcoming PPV, “Vengeance.”

JOEY STYLES: "Breaking news! With RVD confirming that he will keep the WWE Championship, the number one contender for that title will be determined on Monday Night Raw next week, with the title match taking place a week later at Vengeance."

---

Striker’s Classroom​

Matt Striker stands in the centre of the ring with a chalkboard behind him. The crowd is already jeering. He plays to them, smirking, then clears his throat and speaks over the noise.

STRIKER: “For those who don’t know me — I am Matt Striker.” He says pointing to his name on the board, “Your teacher.”

The boos swell; Striker soaks it up with a wider grin.

STRIKER: “You people cheer for men who hit each other with chairs.” A cheer. “Leap through tables.” Another cheer. “And destroy their bodies for your amusement.”

An “E-C-Dub! E-C-Dub!” chant breaks out.

STRIKER: “But those men aren’t brave.” The crowd boos; he leans in, condescending. “They aren’t extreme. They’re… stupid. And you’re stupid for idolising them.”

Striker’s final words are nearly drowned out as the crowd reaches a peak. Suddenly The Sandman’s music hits. The arena explodes. Sandman appears in the crowd with a beer and his Singapore cane.

Sandman smashes the beer can on his forehead, downs what’s left, and makes his way to the ring. He slides in as Striker instinctively holds a hand up, trying to calm things.

STRIKER: “Listen — Sandman, just listen to—”

Sandman snatches the mic from Striker and relaxes, the crowd hushes to hear him.

SANDMAN: “Thanks for that, Matt. I’ve got a lot of regrets about school. If I had my time again, I’d do things different. You, Matt — you remind me of one of my teachers. And I wish… I wish… I wish I’d kicked his ass!”

The crowd erupts. Sandman drops the mic and begins to smash Striker with the cane — three heavy shots. Striker staggers, takes a few more, then scrambles out of the ring and legs it up the ramp, leaving Sandman to pose to the crowd with cane raised.

---

Match 2 – The F.B.I. vs. Danny Doring & Roadkill​

The Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido, Tony Mamaluke & Big Guido) make their entrance, followed by Danny Doring & Roadkill.

JOEY STYLES: “An interesting matchup — the unlikely duo of Doring and Roadkill were the last ECW Tag Team Champions. Can you remember who they beat for those titles, Taz?”

TAZ: “Hmm I'm not sure Joey, I think I've suffered a few concussions since then, but wasn’t it these guys, the F.B.I.?”

JOEY STYLES: “Correct — at Massacre on 34th Street in December 2000!”

TAZ: “And later tonight, we’ve got another pair of former tag champs teaming — RVD and Sabu against Angle and Big Show!”

JOEY STYLES: "That's right. RVD and Sabu held the ECW tag titles on two occasions."

The match begins evenly. The F.B.I. isolate Doring, while the referee restrains Roadkill from breaking it up, allowing double teams behind his back. Doring finally makes a hot tag — Roadkill clears house until Big Guido intervenes, climbing onto the apron and clotheslining him. Mamaluke dropkicks Doring to the floor, allowing Little Guido to hit the Sicilian Slice on Roadkill for the victory.

---

Backstage Vignette​

The camera focuses on the tattoos of a man, as he begins to introduce himself, starting at the shoulder and working down the arm before pulling back so his torso and head are in shot.

TATTOOED MAN: “Don’t let these tattoos fool you — I’m straight edge. I’m a man of discipline. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t do drugs. My addiction is wrestling. My obsession is competition. My name… is C. M. Punk.”

---

Main Event – Kurt Angle & Big Show vs. Rob Van Dam & Sabu​

Kurt Angle enters first, followed by Big Show. Then Sabu and RVD make their entrances to huge reactions. The bell rings — and the fight is on with both teams picking up where they left off earlier.

JOEY STYLES: “This is less a tag match and more of a two-on-two brawl!”

TAZ: “Both teams just want to bash the hell out of each other, and the referee is allowing them to do that. That’s the sort of thing that makes ECW… well, ECW!”

Individually Angle and Big Show get the upper hand on their opponents. Both fights spill outside the ring, and the ECW originals are flung into the guard rail, steel steps and ring posts. As the two individual battles come together, RVD and Sabu are able to work together to get the upper hand. Once they have both men down, they amp the crowd up, before each producing a table from under the ring. They set them up outside the ring, but this gives their opponents time to recover and attack them from behind.

Show and Angle begin working together, moving the fight to the inside of the ring. When Big Show whips him into the corner, Sabu tries to counter, leaping onto the ropes either side of the post and diving at his opponent. Big Show catches him however and then dumps him outside of the ring through one of the tables!

JOEY STYLES: "OH MY GOD!"

With Sabu out, both men target RVD. The double champion fights on valiantly, kicking out of several pinfall attempts. Every time RVD manages to muster a counter, it is short lived as Angle and Show quickly regain the upper hand.

Slowly, slowly, Sabu begins to recover, and as he crawls up to the ring, he reaches underneath and pulls out a chair. The crowd begin to chant for him as he steadies himself on his feet before rolling into the ring. Meanwhile Angle and Big Show are focussed on RVD. They have brought the second table into the ring and now have RVD on top of the turnbuckle. Angle climbs up and tries to suplex him, but RVD manages to fight back and kicks him off. Big Show reaches up and grips him for a chokeslam. RVD kicks off from the turnbuckle and uses Big Show’s size to propel himself over the table. He lands into a roll and pops up besides Sabu. Angle and Big Show turn to go after RVD, but quickly jump back when they see Sabu there, chair in hands, ready to swing. There is a brief moment where all four men seem unsure what to do next. Then Sabu suddenly turns and smashes RVD over the skull with the steel chair. The double champion goes down, Angle and Show stare on in amazement. Sabu looks down at RVD, and then up at his opponents. He tosses the chair down to one side and exists the ring to a chorus of boos, and an emerging ‘F*** you Sabu!’ chant.

Back in the ring Big Show and Kurt Angle shrug at each other. They both step towards RVD to pin him, but Big Show gestures for Kurt to back off. Kurt shrugs and holds his hands out to indicate Big Show can be the one to pin him. But as Big Show turns away and moves towards RVD, Angle comes up behind him and Angle Slams the giant through the table. He dusts his hands and grins before turning his attention to RVD. He pulls him up to his feet, and then also delivers an angle slam to him for good measure. He pins him for the three count and then stands up with his arms aloft. Medal plays as the show closes with Angle standing over the bodies of RVD and Big Show. The crowd is in a frenzy as they have no idea how to process the last few moments.

---

End of Episode 1​

 

[BattleTank]

First off, welcome to the land of BTB!

The "what if" of ECW in 06 always fascinates me, I have about 5 different variations of an ECW 06 project sitting on my computer. It's safe to say I always have time for a good WWECW. If you ever want ECW line breaks for your future shows, just hit me up. I have them lying around somewhere.

The first episode was great, as it really built to the main event and the first big story you have to tell.

Sandman caning Striker was fun, Snow/Stevie was fine for what it needed to be, the tag match read well, and I'm pumped to see how you book CM Punk's inevitable debut.

I like the direction you've gone with Sabu turning his back on RVD, and Angle being the machine taking out Big Show. It creates a power vacuum up top and it sets up a bunch of different avenues you can take the main event scene. I think the ending was perfect for a debut episode.

Best of luck with this moving forward, you have a fan in me!

 

[K-Fabe]

First off, welcome to the land of BTB!

The "what if" of ECW in 06 always fascinates me, I have about 5 different variations of an ECW 06 project sitting on my computer. It's safe to say I always have time for a good WWECW. If you ever want ECW line breaks for your future shows, just hit me up. I have them lying around somewhere.

The first episode was great, as it really built to the main event and the first big story you have to tell.

Sandman caning Striker was fun, Snow/Stevie was fine for what it needed to be, the tag match read well, and I'm pumped to see how you book CM Punk's inevitable debut.

I like the direction you've gone with Sabu turning his back on RVD, and Angle being the machine taking out Big Show. It creates a power vacuum up top and it sets up a bunch of different avenues you can take the main event scene. I think the ending was perfect for a debut episode.

Best of luck with this moving forward, you have a fan in me!

Thank you very much for the feedback - I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I haven't written a BtB in probably 15 years. I suddenly had the itch to write one and was glad to find there was still a community for it.
I'm finishing off the second episode and then plan on spending a bit more time reading through other threads before starting the next.

 

[K-Fabe]

ECW Episode 2​

June 20th, 2006

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Opening Segment​

The show begins with a video package from last week when Sabu turned on RVD, hitting him with a steel chair during their tag match against Kurt Angle and Big Show. They show the chair shot from multiple angles, and then Sabu walking away as the crowd chants ‘f**** you Sabu'. It then cuts to Big Show and Kurt Angle both going to pin RVD, with Angle then Angle slamming Big Show though the table. Finally Angle pins RVD and stands tall over both as it fades to black.

The camera cuts to the arena and then to the commentary team.

JOEY STYLES: ‘Welcome everybody to ECW. We just saw footage from last week’s premier episode of ECW, where Sabu betrayed his tag team partner and friend, the ECW World Champion Rob Van Dam. Francine is backstage with Rob now.”

The camera cuts to backstage where Rob Van Dam is standing with another ECW original in Francine - now taking up the backstage interviewer role. Rob has the ECW World Heavyweight Championship around his waist and the WWE Championship slung over one his left shoulder.

FRANCINE: “Rob, we just watched back what happened last week. Firstly how are you? And have you had any further contact with Sabu since then?”

Rob doesn’t look like his joyful self.

RVD: “I’m doing fine. Physically I have gone through a lot worse. Sure it hurt at the time, but what still stings is the betrayal. Someone who I thought was a friend took a cheap shot at me, and I don’t know why. I tried reaching out, but have had no answer. I’ve been looking for him here, but he’s a no show.” He looks directly into the camera. “What’s wrong Sabu? Can’t look me in the face? Can’t talk to me like a man?” He turns back to Francine and gives a little shrug.

FRANCINE: “We found out last night that you will be facing Edge at Vengeance for the WWE Championship, does this situation with Sabu interfere with your preparation for that match?”

RVD: “Not at all. I’m always ready to go. Knock me down and I’ll pop right back up. In fact I’ve just spoken with Paul Heyman, and he has asked me to take Sabu’s place in the main event tonight. So at Vengeance, just like tonight, I’ll be the one standing victorious and all my fans will be chanting.” He lifts his right arm and point his thumb towards himself. “Rob. Van. Dam,” The crowd can be heard chanting along with him.

FRANCINE: “Thank you Rob. Good luck tonight.”

Rob nods his head to Francine in appreciation and walks away as the camera switches back to ringside.

---

Match 1: Kurt Angle vs. Balls Mahoney​

‘Medel’ hits and the crowd cheer as Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring.

JOEY STYLES: “Well here is the guy who pinned RVD last week, but not before putting his own partner through a table.”

TAZ: “He calls himself a ‘wrestling machine’, but I call him a freak of nature for being able to lift the Big Show up like that and slam him through a table.”

‘Big Nuts’ plays next and Balls Mahoney makes his way out to a good reception from the crowd who start a ‘balls, balls, balls’ chant once they warm up to his new entrance music.

The match gets underway and Kurt Angle throws himself into the initial lockup, quickly slipping behind, and delivering a belly to back suplex. Angle pops up and roars to the crowd. He continues to dominate the early moments of the match until Balls rolls out of the ring, walking around the outside to the timekeeper’s area looking a little winded. Kurt leaves the ring and catches up with him, but as he grabs him, Balls spins around and drives a steel chair into his midsection. He then proceeds to smash it down over his back.

JOEY STYLES: “The steel chair is a very familiar weapon to Balls Mahoney. In the original ECW he was in a tag team for a while that went by the name ‘The Chair Swingin’ Freaks.’”

After a few more chair shots, the action returns the ring. Balls gets some further offence in, but a missed frog splash leaves both men on the mat. As they climb back to their feet, they trade punches and Balls gets the upperhand with the Mahoney Combo. Balls gets some more offence in but Angle kicks out of his pin attempts.

Mahoney gets frustrated and collects the chair again. This gives Angle enough time to recover, and grabs the chair from him and returns the favour with a few chair shots. He then sets the chair up in the middle of the ring, and delivers the Angle Slam through the chair. He quickly kicks the busted chair out of the way before applying the ankle lock and forcing Balls to tap out.

Angle stands victorious as ‘Medel’ kicks in, slightly bent over with one hand feeling his back where he took the chair shots. He doesn’t get to celebrate long though as ‘Crank it up’ hits and Big Show comes out, but doesn't come any further than the entrance. He has a microphone in his hand and hushes his own music.

BIG SHOW: “Kurt Angle. I’m going to keep this short. Last week you embarrassed me when you put me through a table. But you attacked me whilst my back was turned. Next week, that won't be the case when you face me! In a Tables match!”

Big Show tosses the mic down and stares at Kurt Angle menacingly as ‘Crank it up’ starts to play again. Angle stares back at Big Show with a wide grin and gestures to bring it on.

---

Backstage Vignette - CM Punk​

The camera is close up on CM Punk’s face before pulling out slightly.

CM PUNK: “People like to come up to me and tell me I have nice ink. Except these tattoos aren’t just decorations, they’re declarations. Every tattoo tells its own story about who I am.” He raises his closed fists together, showing off the letters tattoos across his knuckles. “Drug free.” Next he shows points to one on his left forearm. “Honor.” Lastly to one on his right bicep. “In a war against the system. See I’m not just some kid looking for the next thrill. I’m an extremely disciplined athlete craving to compete with the very best. My name is C. M. Punk.”

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Match 2: Matt Striker vs. The Sandman​

The school bell rings and ‘Teacher’ plays as Matt Striker makes his way to the ring, dressed to compete.

JOEY STYLES: “Matt Striker out here after requesting a match against The Sandman, who to the delight of everyone last week interrupted Striker’s lecture and beat him with his Singapore cane.”

Matt walks around the ring and collects a microphone from the announcer before climbing into the ring. The crowd begin booing him.

STRIKER: “Last week ignorance prevailed. But a good teacher knows multiple ways to teach their students. This week I’m going to stoop to your level.” The boos get louder as he continues. “So Sandman, get the hell out here.”

‘Nightmare’ immediately hits and the crowd erupt as The Sandman appears among them. He smashes a beer can on his forehead, busting himself open, and then downs what is left. He holds the Singapore cane aloft as the crowd go wild, before making his way down to the ring.

Suddenly out of nowhere a tall man in a black hood-up hoodie tackles Sandman and slams him into the side of a walkway barrier. He picks him up and throws him into a wall. The assault continues as Striker starts taunting him and the crowd on the mic.

STRIKER: “See that's what you get Sandman. You wouldn’t listen, so now you have to learn the hard way. All of you cheered for Sandman when he attacked me last week, well this is what happens, look at your hero now. This is what extreme behaviour leads to.”

The attacker launches Sandman over the barricade into ringside, before rolling him into the ring. He climbs in after him, drags him into the middle and applies a Boston Crab. Striker gets down on his knees and screams in Sandman’s face, who is crying out in agony.

STRIKER: “Let this be a lesson to you. Next time try to engage what very little brains you have in there and listen to what I say.”

The crowd is booing heavily all through this. Striker stands and pats the unknown man on the back. He releases the hold and turns to stand next to Striker. He pulls back his hood to reveal himself to be unknown to the audience - a white man, with a short extended goatee beard. The pair of them soak up the boos whilst Sandman rolls around in pain.

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Video Vignette​

The camera works through a dimly lit club with strobe lighting and smoke. Everyone dancing is dressed in metal or gothic attire. Leather, lace, pale makeup, etc. As the camera passes a dancer it very quickly cuts to them somewhere else, embracing another, dipping a finger in red wine and dragging it down someone’s neck. The brief cutaways have very sexual undertones. Eventually the camera makes its way through the crowd towards a door with a menacing looking bouncer standing beside it. A sign on the door reads ‘Bite Club - Invitations Only.’ The video abruptly ends.

TAZ: “That was very weird. I don’t know what a Bite Club is, and I don’t want to find out.”

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Match 3 - Shannon Moore vs. Tommy Dreamer​

Shannon Moore is out first to ‘Moore On’ (no punk gimmick here) to no reaction. ‘Bad Dream’ plays next and Tommy Dreamer is out next to a good ovation.

The match only lasts for two minutes. It is back and forth throughout until Dreamer lifts Moore up into a fireman's carry, airplane spins and then hits the Spicolli Driver for the victory. The crowd cheers for Dreamer as he salutes them.

---

Promo - Vengeance​

A video promo for the PPV ‘Vengeance’ on Sunday plays, with the main focus being on Rob Van Dam defending the WWE Championship against Edge.

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Match 4 - RVD vs. Justin Credible​

‘One of a kind’ plays and the ECW World Champion and WWE Champion comes out to a great crowd reaction.

JOEY STYLES: “A reminder that this match was meant to feature Sabu, but RVD was asked to take his place after Sabu didn’t show up tonight. Therefore this match is a non-title match.”

‘Incredible’ plays (I don’t know, I just made it up) and Justin Credible makes his way out.

JOEY STYLES: “Justin Credible with the opportunity to prove himself against the champion. Justin has held the ECW World Title before, and was also a two time ECW World Tag Team Champion with Lance Storm.”

RVD puts up his hands to Justin and the referee telling them to wait. He motions for someone to pass him a microphone and an official obliges.

RVD: “This match was meant to feature Sabu, but since he can’t be bothered to show up or explain why he hit me with a steel chair last week….” The crowd begin chanting ‘Fuck you Sabu.’ RVD shrugs with a smirk on his face. “Well I’m afraid you're just going to have to make do with,” He strikes his signature pose and the crowd chant aloud with him. “Rob! Van! Dam!” Rob pauses until the crowd’s applause to dies down. “So I’ve been thinking how to make it up to you. So since my opponent is a former ECW World Champion, and I’m the current ECW World Champion… Well…. Why don’t we make this for the title?”

The crowd pops for a title match. An official passes the referee the title belt who holds it up in the middle of the ring as the announcer officially announces that the title is on the line. Credible looks delighted and exchanges a few inaudible words with RVD.

The match begins fast paced. RVD uses his athleticism to counter Credible’s offence and goes for several early pin attempts, all of which don't trouble Credible. After a minute, the tide changes when Credible ducks a spinning kick and connects with a hard superkick into the side of RVD. Credible goes for the pin attempt but RVD kicks out at two.

The match slows down as Credible takes control. He lifts RVD up and hits him with the atomic drop, before running the ropes and delivering a clothesline. From there Credible applies a headlock to RVD on the mat. The crowd begin to chant ‘R! V! D!’ Fuelled by their support he begins to rise and delivers several elbows to Credible’s mid section - forcing him to break the hold. RVD runs the ropes, rolls under Credible’s lazy lariat attempt, pops up and catches Credible’s leg as he goes for a kick. RVD then takes him down with a step over heel kick.

Both men take a brief moment to collect themselves and then get up. They begin trading blows, before RVD takes Credible down by the ropes with a legsweep. RVD quickly runs the ropes on the opposite side and attempts the rolling thunder with somersault senton. Justin Credible manages to roll out of the ring just in time, meaning RVD lands painfully on his back. He grabs RVD and pulls him head first half out of the ring. He takes a quick step back and then delivers a superkick to the head. RVD lifelessly slips from the ring, as the crowd gasps in horror.

Credible tries to quickly pick up RVD off the ground onto the ring apron, but he is dead weight and it takes a moment. Once he manages it he pushes him into the ring and scrambles in after. He goes for the pin. 1… 2…kickout! RVD still has a little life in him yet.

TAZ: “I’ll tell you what. RVD is lucky he fell from the ring after that superkick, otherwise we would be crowning a new champion.”

Justin Credible can’t believe it. He complains to the referee, but the referee tells him he just kicked out before he reached three. He turns back to RVD and pulls him up to his feet, before charging towards the corner and driving him shoulder first into the ringpost. RVD yells in pain as Credible pulls him back down on the mat and goes for the pin again, but RVD kicks out slightly quicker this time. Credible begins to stomp on the shoulder that collided with the ringpost. He then stoops and applies a hammerlock to the same arm. RVD calls out in pain and the crowd cheer him on again. Credible hooks RVD’s other arm and rolls him over into a pin, but RVD kicks out once again.

Credible pulls RVD to his feet and goes to drive his shoulder into the ringpost again. This time RVD is able to stop it from happening just in time. Credible charges at him, but RVD dodges out of the way. The crowd gets excited as they sense a momentum switch. Credible comes after RVD, but RVD strikes him with several kicks. RVD turns to run the ropes, but Credible reaches out and grabs his hair, causing RVD to fall on his back. Credible follows it up with an elbow drop, but RVD rolls out of the way. Both men get up, but RVD sweeps Credible’s legs and he is back on the mat. RVD follows it up with a standing moonsault and then straight into the pin, but Credible kicks out.

Both men get back to their feet. RVD ducks a lariat, he grabs Credible and whips him into the corner. Credible turns so that he slams back first into the turnbuckle. RVD follows him in with a leaping forearm, but Credible pushes him away so that RVD goes up and over the other side of the ropes, landing on the apron. Credible hits RVD with a couple of big forearms to the head, and then kicks him in the midsection. RVD nearly falls back, but hangs onto the ropes. Credible reaches between the second and third rope and pulls RVD through so that he is leaning over the second rope. He kicks him in the midsection again, and then steps back to go for another superkick to the head. RVD moves out of the way in time, then reaches over the ropes to deliver a big forearm. Credible stumbles back, and RVD hops onto the ropes and propels himself forward to deliver a flying thrust kick. Credible falls to the ground and RVD quickly follows up with a moonsault from the middle rope. He then climbs the turnbuckle and delivers the Five-Star Frog Splash. And just like that, the match is over as RVD pins Justin Credible for the 1…2…3!

RVD celebrates in the ring. An official passes the referee the ECW and WWE Championships, who in turn passes them to RVD. He slings one over each shoulder and acknowledges his fans. There is a commotion in the crowd however, and Sabu suddenly hops up onto the apron behind RVD and climbs a turnbuckle. RVD turns, but it is too late. Sabu launches himself at him. As RVD tries to recover, Sabu grabs him in a front facelock, and then performs a jumping DDT, driving RVD’s head into the WWE Championship belt. RVD stays down clutching his head. The crowd are chanting ‘F*** you Sabu’ once again. Sabu picks up the ECW World Heavyweight Championship and stares at it for a moment before lifting it above his head. He stares down at RVD as the show fades to black.

---

End of Episode 2​

 

[Stojy]

Most the show tonight felt dedicated to the Sabu turn on RVD and that's perfectly understandable. Such a huge moment. I do like casting Francine as a backstage interviewer to, gives her something to do in this less adults only version of ECW. RVD's promo was fine, and then him opting to defend the title against Credible put him over a fighting champion. Obviously he wins, and the aftermath with Sabu getting another attack in worked a treat as well. Fun stuff here throughout, I'm almost expecting Sabu to cost Van Dam the WWE Title against Edge as well.

LOVE extreme Kurt Angle so the win over Balls, and the idea of a tables match with Big Show worked for me.

Enjoying the way you are using Matt Striker so far. He's literally the perfect heel for modern day ECW. I am intrigued by who the person is who took him out, and that's a good thing.

Punk coming in will be great, and I'm guessing the Bite Club is to do with Kevin Thorn? Let's see.

And finally, no issues with Dreamer getting a win over Moore.

First two shows have been a run read. They are so easy to get through, and whilst you're still establishing angles, the ones you've worked on so far, RVD/Sabu, Show/Angle and Strikker/ECW originals are looking promising.

Wishing you the best of luck with this.

 

[K-Fabe]

Most the show tonight felt dedicated to the Sabu turn on RVD and that's perfectly understandable. Such a huge moment. I do like casting Francine as a backstage interviewer to, gives her something to do in this less adults only version of ECW. RVD's promo was fine, and then him opting to defend the title against Credible put him over a fighting champion. Obviously he wins, and the aftermath with Sabu getting another attack in worked a treat as well. Fun stuff here throughout, I'm almost expecting Sabu to cost Van Dam the WWE Title against Edge as well.

LOVE extreme Kurt Angle so the win over Balls, and the idea of a tables match with Big Show worked for me.

Enjoying the way you are using Matt Striker so far. He's literally the perfect heel for modern day ECW. I am intrigued by who the person is who took him out, and that's a good thing.

Punk coming in will be great, and I'm guessing the Bite Club is to do with Kevin Thorn? Let's see.

And finally, no issues with Dreamer getting a win over Moore.

First two shows have been a run read. They are so easy to get through, and whilst you're still establishing angles, the ones you've worked on so far, RVD/Sabu, Show/Angle and Strikker/ECW originals are looking promising.

Wishing you the best of luck with this.

Hey. Thank you for reading. I am having lots of fun planning the angles, and then re-planning after I think of new ideas, so I'm glad that its translating well when putting it into words. I'm trying to be somewhat realistic with this and sticking to the roster at the time, so Sandman's attacker isn't anybody to exciting, but hoping I can do more with them the WWE ever did. With that in mind...

Vengeance​

WWE Championship Match
Rob Van Dam (c) defeated Edge w/ Lita

In a back-and-forth contest, RVD successfully defended the WWE Championship. With both men pulling out all the stops, momentum swung several times before Edge accidentally speared Lita after RVD dodged out of the way. The opening allowed RVD to capitalise with a thunderous Five-Star Frog Splash to retain his title and keep the gold in ECW hands.
​

ECW Episode 3 Preview​

Extreme tensions continue to rise
Two weeks into ECW’s rebirth, alliances are already crumbling, new faces are making their mark, and chaos reigns across the land of extreme. With rivalries heating up and egos clashing, this week’s show promises more pain, passion and pure anarchy than you can handle.

Sabu’s Makes His Intentions Clear​

Sabu is a man of little words and likes to do his talking through his actions. Well it seems the ECW World Heavyweight Title means more to him than friendship after he attacked RVD again last week. After holding RVD’s title above the broken champion, it’s clear his eyes are on the prize, but is he deserving of a shot? So far he hasn’t recorded a victory, will he get another chance this week after deliberately not competing last time out?

Mystery Attacker Revealed​

Last week The Sandman was attacked whilst making his way to the ring - an attack clearly orchestrated by his would-be opponent Matt Striker. Striker sought revenge after The Sandman beat him on the debut episode of ECW. We can now exclusively reveal the attacker to be Mike Knox. Knox has until recently been signed to a development contract to WWE and has been training at OVW. Following the assault on The Sandman, Paul Heyman has signed Knox to ECW and he will make his in-ring debut this week!

We Want Tables!​

On the debut episode of ECW, Kurt Angle teamed with Big Show to take on RVD and Sabu. Following Sabu’s betrayal of RVD, Angle picked up Big Show and slammed him through a table so that he could be the one to pin RVD. Last week Big Show revealed his embarrassment and looks to rectify it by challenging Kurt Angle to a tables match this week. The rules are simple, put your opponent through a table to win the match. Will Big Show be embarrassed a second time, or will the ‘Wrestling Machine’ be short circuited by the world’s largest athlete?

Announced Matches​

• Tables Match:Big Show vs Kurt Angle
• Mike Knox makes his debut

Stay tuned for this and more from the land of extreme in the next episode of ECW!

 

[Stojy]

I was a little surprised RVD retained over Edge at Vengeance. I just assumed it would be easier to book RVD with the ECW title, then with two belts. I guess I am intrigued to see how much crossover we get, with Raw guys potentially showing up on ECW to get RVD's attention.

Preview for the next episode is fine. Show/Angle is obviously the big announced match. It would be nice to see Sabu in action as well so hopefully that happens. By the way, you undersold the attacker, Knox is awesome. My only issue is doing the reveal and intro on the preview feels like underselling the moment. Should have had Striker cutting an epic promo and introducing him during the show to make him feel like more of a bigger deal.

Still, between Sabu/RVD, Show/Angle and Striker/Sandman angles, there's enough here to be excited for this next episode. I'll be reading.

 

[K-Fabe]

ECW Episode 3​

June 27th, 2006

​

Opening Segment​

Joey Styles and Taz welcome everyone to this week’s episode of ECW. They promise an entertaining night with Big Show taking on Kurt Angle in a Tables match in the main event. They then move onto recapping RVD’s successful WWE Championship match at Vengeance against Edge. They then start talking about the developing rivalry between RVD and Sabu. Joey Styles suddenly receives a message in his earpiece and says they are going to receive an update from Paul Heyman on the situation. The camera then cuts to backstage with Heyman.

PAUL HEYMAN: “Sabu, my homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, maniac. We all saw what you did. You turned your back on your best friend, Rob Van Dam. All because you’ve got your eyes on his ECW World Heavyweight Championship. You know what? I get it. That hunger, that obsession. That’s what made ECW, ECW. But let me remind you of something. This isn’t 1997 anymore. This is the new era of ECW. And in this new era, you haven’t exactly earned your stripes yet. You haven’t won a match. Hell, last week you didn’t even show up for your match! Now I love a little chaos, you know that, it keeps things interesting. But tonight Sabu, you’re gonna have to prove that you still have what it takes to compete in the land of extreme. I’m putting you in a match with Al Snow, someone who has actually won a match in the new era. So do yourself a favour Sabu. Show up. Win. Make your statement. Otherwise… don’t expect me to hand you anything.”

The camera lingers on Heyman for a moment as he points towards the camera. Then it cuts back to ringside and the commentary team discusses Heyman’s message to Sabu.

---

​

Match 1 - Mike Knox vs. Tony Mamaluke​

‘Death Grip’ plays as Mike Knox, accompanied by Matt Striker, makes his way down to the ring.

JOEY STYLES: "We're going to get underway this week with the in-ring debut of this man, Mike Knox. Let us remind you of our introduction to Knox last week.” Video footage of last week plays as the commentary team talks over it. “Matt Striker had requested a match with Sandman after he beat him with his Singapore Cane on the debut episode of ECW.”

TAZ: “Yes Joey, and it turned out to be a ruse as Sandman would be attacked on his way to the ring.”

JOEY STYLES: “As revealed on WWE dot com this week, the attacker was revealed to be Mike Knox, who has been wrestling at Ohio Valley Wrestling under a WWE development contract. After the extreme impact Knox made last week, Paul Heyman signed him to an ECW contract.”

Knox climbs in the ring, whilst Striker grabs a microphone before joining him. The crowd begins booing him before he can get a chance to speak. Striker just smirks and waits a moment before talking over them.

MATT STRIKER: “You boo me, but what happened to Sandman last week was as much your fault as his.” The boos somehow get louder before a ‘We want Sandman’ chant breaks out. “The fact you are chanting for Sandman tells me you're even more stupid than I thought you were. Last week ignorance was punished. I warned you, I warned all of you, but just like the Sandman you choose not to listen. You can’t. You're too busy living down to the stereotypes this place was built on. Beer!” The crowd cheers. “Blood!” More cheers. “Broken tables…” Louder cheers. “And broken lives!” The crowd chants ‘E! C! W!’ definitely. Striker sneers. “You cheer for self-destruction like it's a badge of honour. You celebrate stupidity.” The crowd return to booing. “Well congratulations. Last week you watched your hero learn what happens when chaos meets intelligence.” Striker turns to Knox and puts a hand on his shoulder. “This man right here is Mike Knox. He doesn’t need to smash beer cans on his head to prove he’s tough. He doesn’t need to hide behind a cane, or some tired idea of what ‘extreme’ means. He’s strength. He’s precision. He’s discipline.” Knox crosses his arms staring into the camera with a menacing look. Striker begins walking around the ring wagging his finger at the crowd. “And tonight, he’s going to demonstrate everything I’ve been saying since I arrived here. That intelligence will always overcome chaos. Consider this match…” Striker smirks at the camera. “Your next lesson.”

The crowd continue to boo Striker but they fade out as ‘Brooklyn’ begins to play. The F.B.I. come out. No Big Guido this time. It’s just Tony Mamaluke and Little Guido.

The match begins and Mike Knox immediately overpowers Mamaluke in the opening lockup. He forces him down onto the mat and then stamps on his left hand. Mamaluke rolls away and gets up quickly whilst clutching his hand. Knox is straight on him with a kick to the mid section and several punches, Knox then bounces off the ropes and takes Mamaluke down with a shoulder tackle. He once again stamps on Mamaluke’s left hand, and this time the full-blooded Italian rolls out of the ring and Little Guido immediately begins trying to motivate and coach him. Meanwhile Knox mimes smashing a beer can on his forehead and downing it as Sandman does to loud boos from the crowd.

Knox’s taunting to the crowd turns out to be a mistake. Little Guido suddenly heads over to Matt Striker and begins shouting in his face. This gets the attention of Knox, making the rookie mistake of turning his back on his opponent. Mamaluke capitalises, sliding back into the ring and kicking Knox in the back of the knee, causing his leg to buckle, and he collapses onto the mat. Mamaluke seizes the advantage and the match swings in his favour.

After watching Mamaluke take control of the match, Matt Striker decided to make his own distraction and jumps onto the ring apron. This distracts the referee as he goes over to tell Striker to get down. Seeing his chance, Little Guido enters the ring to help soften Knox up. This was Striker’s plan however and he hops down from the apron. The referee turns and see Little Guido about to attack Knox, and rushes over to force him back out of the ring. This now gives Striker the moment he was looking for. He climbs into the ring, hits Mamaluke with a lungblower and quickly slides back out. The referee turns back to the match and doesn’t see a thing.

Knox is first up and waits for Mamaluke to rise before knocking him straight back down with a big boot. He then applies a Boston crab and Mamaluke begins squirming. There is a sudden commotion in the crowd as Sandman hops over the barrier and starts beating a startled Striker with his Singapore cane. He forces Striker up the ramp, whilst Knox releases his hold and looks on from the ring, unsure what to do. Mamaluke meanwhile manages to get back to his feet and stumbles into his corner. Little Guido encourages him to take the advantage whilst Knox is distracted. Mamaluke does just that and runs past Knox, hopping onto the second rope, and then performing a springboard DDT, driving Knox’s head into the mat. Mamaluke quickly rolls Knox up, and despite Knox’s weak attempts to kick out, Mamaluke is able to hold him down for the pinfall victory.

Little Guido joins Mamaluke in the ring to celebrate. Knox sits up and rubs his head. There is a cheer as, having already chased Striker away, Sandman returns running to the ring. Knox sees this and makes a quick exit, tumbling over the guard rail to make his escape. Sandman doesn’t bother chasing him down, he climbs a turnbuckle and points his somewhat broken singapore cane towards Knox. Realising he is safe, Knox turns to face Sandman as he slowly walks backwards, rubbing his head again. Sandman shouts after him ‘I’ll get you next time!”

---

​

Video Vignette - Bite Club​

A video returns to the underground nightclub scene from last week - dimly lit, smoke and strobe lighting. The door with the ‘Bite Club - Invitations Only’ sign is visible as the camera closes in on it. It fades to a scene with a gothic looking woman sitting at a wooden table. The camera doesn’t show a full shot of her, just parts or her attire, hair, hands, lips, etc. The woman speaks in a soft, deliberate, seductive tone.

GOTHIC WOMAN: “Every Bite Club has its rules… Rule number one: You don’t find Bite Club. Bite Club finds you. Rule number two: Once you enter, you don’t walk away unchanged. Rule number three..” The camera focuses on her mouth as she smirks and then traces a finger along her teeth. “Everyone bleeds eventually.”

The video fades to black as she lets out a low unsettling laugh, and we return to the commentary team. Joey Styles and Taz glance at each other with weirded out expressions on their faces.

TAZ: “Umm no thank you, I don’t want to know what that's all about.”

---

​

Match 2 - Sabu vs. Al Snow​

‘Huka Blues’ begins playing and the crowd rise to their feet to begin booing the outcoming Sabu. Sabu dives into the ring and strikes his signature pose as an ‘RVD! RVD!’ chant begins.

“What does everybody want?” Hits and the crowd cheer for Al Snow and begin chanting ‘Head! Head! Head!’ Al climbs into the ring and shakes Head above him before placing it down in his corner.

The match gets underway and both men go to lockup, but Sabu quickly changes it up and dives at his opponents feet instead, knocking him on his ass. Sabu quickly pops up and kicks Snow in the back. He then runs the ropes and goes to kick Snow in the face, but Snow lies back and dodges it. Snow then quickly swipes Sabu’s feet from under him and applies a Dragon Sleeper. Sabu is able to get into a standing position, and then twists out of it, before dropkicking Al Snow's legs from under him.

The match continues at a fast pace with Sabu getting most of the offence in. Some of Sabu’s high risk offence doesn’t work out as he planned, giving Snow some openings, but the match quickly swings back in Sabu’s favour each time. The end of the match came when Sabu knocks Al Snow down near Snow’s corner of the ring. Sabu then grabs Head and climbs to the second rope in the corner and performs an Arabian Facebuster, but with Head in place of a chair.

TAZ: “Arabian Facebuster? I think we will call that one an Arabian Headbuster.”

Sabu then chucks Head down the ramp and rolls up Al Snow for the victory as a loud chorus of boos ring out.

Boos that quickly turn to cheers, as RVD suddenly appears, hopping the guard rail and diving into the ring. He quickly lays into Sabu delivering a flurry of punches and kicks, knocking his former friend down. He hurriedly leaves the ring to collect a steel chair and returns in time to smash it over the head of Sabu as he was just getting to his feet. RVD then smashes it over his back a few times, before dragging Sabu over to a corner. He sits him up, before climbing the corner across from him, chair in hand. RVD stops to perform his signature taunt, with the whole crowd chanting ‘Rob! Van! Dam!’ along with him. Then he leaps corner to corner, holding the chair out in front of him to deliver a Van Terminator to Sabu. The crowd continue to cheer and RVD decides he has had enough revenge for now and heads up the ramp.

---

​

Backstage Vignette - CM Punk​

The camera focusses on some of the tattoos of CM Punk before pulling back so his whole upper body is in frame.

CM PUNK: “So what qualifies me being here in ECW? Brazilian jiu jitsu. Muay thai kickboxing. Kenpo karate. And the most regimented discipline of all - wrestling. See I have trained extensively all over the world. And it’s time that everybody finds out how disciplined I am by competing here with the best. My debut will be next week. My name is C M Punk.”

The camera fades and returns to commentary.

TAZ: “See now that’s a debut I can get behind. None of that creepy Bite Club stuff.”

---

​

Mainevent - Match 3 - Tables Match: Big Show vs. Kurt Angle​

‘Crank it up’ plays and Big Show comes out for the main event. As he makes his way down to the ring he passes several stacks of collapsed tables. The crowd are excited for the match to come.

JOEY STYLES: “Let’s take you back two weeks to the premier episode of ECW.” Video plays of the events leading to the match as he talks over them. “Big Show was paired with Kurt Angle in the main event to take on the team of RVD and Sabu. After Sabu betrayed RVD, Big Show told Angle that he would be the one to pin him. However Angle had different ideas, lifting Big Show up and Angle Slamming him through a table. Then last week Big Show revealed that Angle had embarrassed him, so he had gone to Heyman to arrange this match tonight to get some payback.”

The crowd turn it up a notch as ‘Medel’ plays and Kurt Angle makes his way out.

JOEY STYLES: “Reminder of the rules of a Tables Match - whoever puts their opponent through a table first wins the match.”

The match begins with both opponents squaring up and talking smack to each other. Big Show shoves Angle, and Angle shoves him back but not quite to the same effect. Shoves quickly become punches, but Big Show’s punches hit a little harder and he takes the advantage. He grabs Angle and throws him with ease across the ring. Angle gets up quick, but Big Show is right on him and shoves him into the corner and quickly delivers a chop. Big Show grabs Angle again and tosses him so that he somersaults in the air across the ring. He pulls Angle to his feet and shoves him in the corner again. He puts his fingers to his lips to hush the crowd and they quieten down in anticipation for another chop. Angle however kicks at Big Show’s knee putting him off balance. Angle follows up with a couple of big punches sending Big Show backwards. Angle runs the ropes, but meets Big Show’s big boot. Angle drops to the mat and rolls to the outside near the two stacks of tables.

Big Show follows Angle to the outside, but he is a bit slow stepping over the ropes and down onto the floor. This gives Angle time to recover and pouches on Big Show with a flurry of punches. Big Show swats away a punch and grabs Angle behind the neck and then knees him in the midsection. He effortlessly picks Angle up and throws him back first into a ring post. Angle drops to the mat and cries out in pain as he holds his back. Big Show delivers a few clubbing blows to his sore back, before scooping him up and pushing him under the bottom rope into the ring. To the delight of the crowd, Big Show then turns to the tables and picks one up. He places it on top of the bottom rope and begins sliding it into the ring. Angle however, recovering quickly, sees this, and dropkicks the table, sending Big Show falling backwards.

Angle now leaves the ring. He grabs the table he just kicked, and slides it into the ring. Big Show leans on one of the stacks of tables to help himself up. Angle climbs the other stack behind him and waits for Big Show to recover. Big Show turns and Angle leaps at him, taking him down with a Tornado DDT. Angle gets up first and pulls a table off the stack and sets it up outside of the ring. Big Show recovers however and catches Angle offguard, and drives him back first into the ring apron. Big Show looks at the table and then grabs Angle for a chokeslam. He sets up to put him through the table, lifts him into the air, but Angle counters and breaks free. Angle quickly attempts an Angle Slam, but Big Show elbows him in the head. Angle comes back at him with some punches but Big Show shoves him back-first into the barrier.

The two competitors brawl outside the ring, but the action takes them away from the table. After Big Show whips Angle into the ring steps near the commentary desk, he picks the top stair up and slams it down on Angle’s back several times. He then picks Angle up, rolls him into the ring, and climbs in after. Big Show picks up the table that had been slid in earlier and props it up in one corner. He then pulls Angle to his feet and attempts to whip Angle into the table. Angle manages to put on the breaks and stops just short of colliding with the table. Big Show charges at Angle, but Angle sidesteps. Big Show is pretty much embracing the table as he stops himself from going through it. He grabs the table, holding it vertically and shoves it towards Angle. Angle catches it, but Big Show pounds on it so that it collides with Angle’s head. Angle staggers back holding his head and the table falls to the ground, with the table surface side up.

TAZ: “Kurt Angle needs to remember he is a wrestling machine. So far this match has been a brawl, which is exactly what Big Show wants.”

Big Show walks over to Angle and clubs him over the back a few times, forcing him down onto all fours. He then scoops Angle up and slams him down, back first, onto the collapsed table. Big Show bounces off the ropes and attempts a leg drop, but Angle rolls out of the way, and Big Show lands on the table. He clutches his leg and yells in pain, whilst Angle holds his back. Both men take a moment to get up with Angle slightly quicker. He delivers a few punches and then runs the ropes, but Big Show steps forwards and grabs him around the throat. Big Show sets up for a chokeslam on the collapsed table in the ring. He lifts Angel up but he reverses it, rolls Big Show over and comes up holding his foot in an ankle lock. Big Show yells in pain as the crowd cheers for Angle.

Big Show flails about. He grabs the table, but is unable to do anything with it that will help him. Slowly he pulls them closer to the ropes, finally reaching the bottom one. He pulls on it and uses it to help him twist around and then kick Angle off him with his free leg. Big Show uses the ropes to help him get to his feet. He is on the entrance side of the ring, and the table Angle set up earlier is just below him. Angle spots this and using the ropes as leverage, tries to push Big Show over the top of them. He fails though and Big Show instead lifts him more with his body than his arms, over his head and the ring ropes. Angle grabs on to the ropes and lands on the apron. Big Show turns and delivers a few punches. Angle holds on tight to the ropes as he leans right back over the table. Big Show then tries to push him off with his foot, but still Angle holds on. Big Show takes a few steps back and then comes at him with a big boot. Angle is able to pull himself in and down on the top rope. Angle releases the rope once Big Show’s leg is over it, causing him to get caught up on them. Angle applies a headlock to Big Show pulling him downwards, forcing him to step over the ropes onto the apron with him.

Both men are now standing on the apron over the table. They sluggishly begin trading punches. Each time they are on the receiving end, they swing dangerously over the table, holding onto the ropes with one hand. Angle gains a bit of momentum and attacks with a flurry of lighter punches and kicks, but Big Show absorbs them, drawing Angle in closer before shoving him powerfully away. Angle loses his footing and falls off the apron, but fortunately for him, away from the table. Big Show quickly climbs back into the ring away from danger.

Big Show takes a moment to catch his breath and then walks over to the ring edge, where he expects to find Angle on the floor. Angle isn’t there however. Instead he crawled around the ring and has slipped in behind Big Show. Big Show show turns and sees Angle coming towards him, he goes for a clothesline, but Angle ducks underneath. Angle comes off the ropes and dropkicks the leg of Big Show, who falls to a kneeling position. Angle punches him a few times and then runs the ropes and kicks him in the head, sending him sprawling.

Angle is clearly the crowd favourite as they cheer for this shift in momentum. Angle picks up the collapsed table and sets it up in a corner. As Big Show gets to his feet, Angle tries to whip him into the table, but he can’t budge the giant. Big Show instead pulls Angle in and takes him down with a clothesline. Big Show takes a moment to collect himself, then walks over to Angle. He lifts him up for a powerbomb and turns towards the table. Angle punches him in the head a few times and is able to battle out of it, landing on his feet. Big Show attempts to take him down with another clothesline, but Angle ducks it, and runs the ropes. Big Show grabs Angle, seemingly going for a sidewalk slam, but Angles momentum allows him to slip right over Big Show shoulder, landing on his feet behind him. Angle doesn’t hesitate a moment to lift Big Show up and deliver an Angle Slam.

The crowd roars and Angle is feeling it. He yanks down the shoulder straps of his singlet and roars back at them. He grabs the table from the corner and then sets it up properly.

JOEY STYLES: “Big Show is down. The shoulder straps are down. But the table is going up. Kurt Angle is ready to finish this.”

TAZ: “When those straps come down Joey, you know someone’s about to go for a ride!”

Big Show is slowly moving. Angle pulls him to his feet. He positions himself to deliver another Angle Slam, but this time through a table.

JOEY STYLES: “Kurt Angle looking to put Big Show through a table in the same manner he did two wee…. wait! Oh what the hell are these guys doing out here?”

Angle is ready to put Big Show through the table, but Matt Striker has charged out and jumped on the ring apron to distract him. Meanwhile Mike Knox slides into the ring behind him and kicks Angle in the back of the knees. Angle falls, releasing Big Show. Striker joins Knox in the ring and the two of them begin stomping away at Angle.

Big Show watches for a moment. Then he slaps Striker on the shoulder and tells them to stand him up. They pull Angle up and hold him in place as Big Show grabs him by the throat. He steps closer to the table and lifts up Angle, but Angle counters the chokeslam again. With Big Show temporarily down, he rolls over the table to create some distance from them. Striker goes one way round, Knox the other. Angle quickly pushes the table into Knox’s path and turns to start throwing punches with Striker, before knocking him down with an European Uppercut. He turns and manages to dodge a clothesline from Knox. He grabs Knox from behind and takes him down with a German suplex. Striker comes back at him, but he kicks him in the mid section, spins him around and suplexes him as well. Big Show tasks aim with a big punch, but Angle dodges him too and delivers another Angle Slam. The crowd are going wild as Angle takes on all three men. Knox comes again, and Angle quickly turns it into another suplex to the newcomer. Striker charges at Angle. Angle retreats a few steps to the ropes. He ducks down as Striker is upon him, then quickly pops up again, using Striker momentum against him, as he launches him over the ropes, somersaulting in the air, and landing crash through the table on the outside!

JOEY STYLES: “OH MY GOD!”

The crowd are deafening as they cheer for Striker going through the table and Angle’s heroics. Angle holds his back, having sustained plenty of damage to it throughout the match, and just having lifted Striker mostly with it. Knox comes at Angle once more. Angle tries to kick him in the midsection, but Knox catches his leg. Angle hops a few times, before dropping to the mat, tucking both legs, pulling Knox over him. He quickly pushes with both legs and flips Knox over him. Angle quickly spins over, and grabs Knox’s foot as he stands up whilst applying an ankle lock. Knox is able to reach for the ropes, he twists and kicks Angle off him. Angle stumbles back a few steps into the Big Show. Big Show locks in a cobra clutch and lifts him up, and down for a backbreaker across his knee. He holds onto Angle and shoves him towards Knox, who grabs him, turns him around, then drives his head into the mat with a mean looking swinging reverse STO.

The crowd heavily boo as Knox hurriedly pulls the table into the centre of the ring whilst Big Show picks Angle off the mat. The Big Show sets up the chokeslam, as this time there is no fight in Angle to counter. Angle goes up and down, crashing through the table. The bell rings and ‘Crank it up' begins playing. Big Show stands victorious in the ring, whilst Knox slides out to grab Striker. He rolls him in and then holds him up, whilst all three stand over Angle and the table debris to close the show.

---

End of Episode 3​

 

[K-Fabe]

A few nights later…​

My phone rings, I look at the caller ID to see it's from Vince. Shit I better answer it…

VINCE MCMAHON: "Hey, listen… we’ve got a situation. A few nights ago, Rob Van Dam was pulled over for speeding, and they found drugs in his car. Sabu was with him, and he got picked up too. Now I’ve spoken with Legal and Talent Relations. We don’t have a choice here. RVD’s gonna have to be suspended for thirty days under the Wellness Policy. Sabu, he’s getting off with a fine this time. Publicly, we’ll say both men are cleared to compete while we ‘conduct an internal review.’ In reality that’s just a cover so we can get the belts off Rob. He’ll drop the WWE title on Raw, and then he can drop the ECW title the next night on ECW. Then we’ll suspend him after that. I know this screws with what you had planned. Believe me I’m not thrilled either, but given the circumstances… our hands are tied. I’ll give you the freedom to decide who becomes the next ECW Champion. But remember, our champions represent this company more than anyone. So make damn sure whoever you pick looks, acts and lives like a champion.”

I politely thank Vince for letting me know and I will think carefully who to give the belt to next. I put the phone down and then start screaming.

ME: “Noooo God! No God please no! No! No! Nooooooooooooo!”

 

[BattleTank]

This was a great little segment. On one hand, a lot of the WWECW “what if” is always if RVD didn’t get scooped up on that fateful night. In this case, I am glad you are sticking to real life because it gives you a chance to build up somebody (other than Big Show lol) to take the reigns as champ.

Regardless, I am excited to see what you have cooked up moving forward. Keep up the great work.

 

[EZ3]

Been keeping up with this thus far and just wanted to drop a line.

As BT said, the choice to keep the real-life situation with RVD in play is very interesting. It'll be a great lead for the next show to see how you get the belt off him and who replaces Van Dam as the figurehead of the brand. I would've thought Angle but I don't think you'd have him lose the previous week if he's going to get the belt (even if this is supposed to be on the fly). Maybe I'm wrong - either way it's got me wanting to see how it all plays out on the next episode.

 

[Stojy]

Love that you're including the real life issues with Van Dam, and to a lesser extent Sabu in here. BTB was off to a solid start, but this just adds so much intrigue as to who the new champ will be. Looking forward to seeing what you have up your sleeve.

 

[K-Fabe]

ECW Episode 4​

7/4/2006

​

---

Opening Segment​

The show begins with a video package. It begins with a black screen with text reading ‘Last Night’. Then footage begins to show highlights from Raw where Rob Van Dam agreed to defend his WWE Championship in an impromptu match against John Cena and Edge. The match highlights are all of Cena and Edge being close to victory, RVD doesn’t get close. The match finished with RVD being on the receiving end of Cena’s five moves of doom, but it would be Edge to pin him after taking Cena out with a spear.

We are then taken backstage to Paul Heyman looking into the camera.

PAUL HEYMAN: “When I found out ECW was coming back… I knew it needed a champion. Not just a champion, a symbol. Someone who could stand toe to toe with the champions on Raw and SmackDown, and still be everything ECW represents.
And I thought, no, I believed, that man was Rob. Van. Dam.

But last night… last night, Rob Van Dam made me question every ounce of that belief.

Because instead of doing the smart thing, instead of vacating that WWE Championship and focusing on this brand, his brand, Rob decided to keep it. And then he goes out there on Monday Night Raw, and allows John Cena and Edge to talk him into an impromptu championship match.

And he lost.

Now it wasn’t so much that he lost. It was the nature of that loss. Nobody watching that match thought the ECW Champion looked like he belonged in the same ring as the other two.

So let me tell you something, not only did Rob Van Dam make himself look bad… he made ECW look bad. He embarrassed every single one of us who fought and bled for these three letters!

So here’s what’s gonna happen. Tonight! Rob Van Dam gets an opportunity. An opportunity to demonstrate that last night was just a blip. An opportunity to show everyone that he is one of the best in the world. An opportunity to show that he truly is one of a kind.

Because tonight, Rob Van Dam, you will defend the ECW World Heavyweight Championship… in a Four–Way Dance!

And if any of you don’t know what that means — that means four men start the match, and they eliminate each other until one is left standing!

And the three men sharing the ring with Rob tonight?
The World’s Largest Athlete, The Big Show!
The Wrestling Machine, Kurt Angle!
And the homicidal! Suicidal! Genocidal! Death–defying maniac! SABU!

So Rob… tonight, you’d better remind the world why I ever believed in you in the first place. Because if you don’t… I won’t make that mistake again.”

The camera fades out and then ‘Bodies’ by Drowning Pool kicks in as the intro video plays. The camera then shows several different shots of the pumped up audience, before heading over to the announcers desk with Joey Styles and Taz seeming flabbergasted by Paul Heyman’s announcement.

---

Match 1: Mike Knox w/Matt Striker vs. The Sandman​

‘Death Grip’ hits and Mike Knox with Matt Striker in support make their way to the ring.

JOEY STYLES: “Let’s take you back to last week where Mike Knox made his in-ring debut in a match against Tony Mamaluke. Knox would start the match strong, but The Sandman, out for revenge after Knox attacked him the week prior, came out and attacked Striker, causing the distraction and allowing Maamluke to pick up the victory.

But that's not all, later that night, in the main event, The Big Show took on Kurt Angle in a Tables match. Just when it looked like Kurt Angle would seal the victory, who should appear?”

TAZ: “These two goons Joey. They came out and attacked Angle, and handed the Big Show the victory. Not before Angle managed to launch Striker through a table mind you. I enjoyed that bit a lot.”

JOEY STYLES: “And I guess the question has to be asked, what sort of alliance do these two have with Big Show? Big Show of course being one of the four competitors in the 4 Way Dance Championship match tonight.”

TAZ: “Oh no, Striker has a microphone again. Who keeps giving him a microphone?”

MATT STRIKER: “Ladies and gentlemen… your teacher has another lesson for you tonight.” He smirks as the crowd boos him. “You see, in life there are moments when a man has to accept defeat, reflect on it, and learn from it. That’s called growth. But last week, The Sandman chose the opposite of growth, he once again, chose ignorance.”

The jeering rises as Striker pauses to let them calm down a little. He goes to speak again, but ‘Nightmare’ blasts out and the crowd roar as The Sandman makes his entrance. As usual he smashes a beer can on his forehead, busting himself open. He downs what is left and then makes his way through the audience to the ring, Singapore cane in hand.

Knox and Striker both wait for him in the ring. Sandman walks up the steel steps and steps in through the ropes. Striker and Knox immediately pounce on him, throwing lefts and rights. Sandman manages to fight back though and starts smashing both of them with the cane. The referee can see the match is going to be a brawl and calls for the bell to officially start it.

Knox rolls out of the ring, and Sandman beats the hell out of Striker until the cane is useless. Knox returns and attacks him from behind. From there the two brawl around the ring with a few actual wrestling moves mixed in.

The action spills to the outside of the ring, where it becomes a two on one fight, with Striker recovering enough to get involved. Sandman does well to hold his own against the two opponents, but every time he takes one down, the other pops back up to continue the fight. Eventually this wears Sandman down and Knox and Striker begin to dominate the match.

The match returns to the ring and the pace slows as Striker and Knox take turns to put Sandman in various holds. They don’t appear to be particularly interested in winning the match, just punishing Sandman. However, Sandman, rallied by the crowd, manages to fight his way back into the match. It is all too brief however, and taking back control of the match, Striker and Knox decide to end it with both hitting their finishers. First Striker hits the Golden Rule, and then Knox with the Knox Out, before pinning Sandman for the victory.

But the action doesn’t stop there. Striker and Knox, with smug grins on their faces soak up the jeers from the crowd. They turn to leave and then pause. Sandman is getting back up. They start stomping on him. ‘Bad Dream’ suddenly hits, but Dreamer is already sliding into the ring with a steel chair. He swings it widely, but Striker and Knox manage to duck out of the ring quick enough. They back up the ramp, Striker pointing towards Dreamer, telling him he is just another ‘ignorant original.’ Dreamer checks on Sandman, who slowly starts to rise again.

---

Backstage Promos​

We go backstage to Rob Van Dam doing some light warmups. He stops and looks into the camera.

RVD: “Yeah, I’ll say it straight, last night…” He shakes his head. “I didn’t do well. I blew it. I was off my game. That wasn’t the Whole Damn Show you’re used to. That wasn’t me.

But here’s the thing, I don’t make excuses. I don’t cry about it, I don’t hide from it. I take it. I learn from it. And I get better. Because that’s what a real champion does.

Now Paul Heyman says I made ECW look bad. Maybe. But I am ECW man. I’ve bled for this show. I’m not here to be some sort of poster boy. I’m here because ECW is about guys like me. Guys who risk it all to put on the best damn show on the planet.

So yeah, I had a bad match. It happens. But tonight? Tonight I prove exactly why I’m the Whole Damn Show. Kurt Angle, Big Show, Sabu… Doesn’t matter who is in that ring. I’m walking out still ECW Champion because nobody, nobody, does it like Rob. Van. Dam.”

The camera lingers on RVD for a moment before switching to Kurt Angle, who is elsewhere backstage also doing some intense warmups. He stops and glares intensely into the camera.

KURT ANGLE: “Tonight isn’t about being extreme. It’s about being the best. And I’m a wrestling machine, the best there is in the world.

It took three men to take me down last week, but that’s not happening tonight!

Big Show is a giant, but he will find out how fast a giant falls.
RVD calls himself the whole damn show? I don’t steal the show, I take it!
Sabu? Some homicidal freak? Well I’m a freak of nature!

Tonight the ECW Championship is coming home with me.

Oh it’s true… It’s damn true.”

The camera moves onto The Big Show. He is stood with his arms crossed, looking menacing into the camera. Mike Knox is stood to his left, and Striker to his right.

MATT STRIKER: “What did we prove again last week? That intelligence, not chaos, wins in this new ECW. Unlike everybody else here, Big Show hasn’t chosen the path of ignorance. Paul Heyman wants a fighting champion? Well tonight, the biggest, most dominant athlete in the world is going to show you all what happens when brains and brawn come together.”

BIG SHOW: “Brains, brawn, dominance, that’s me. Step in my way tonight and you’ll see why I’m the biggest, strongest, most unstoppable force in ECW. RVD, Angle, Sabu, bring everything you’ve got. I’ll take it all and will leave as the new ECW World Heavyweight Champion.”

The camera then switches to Sabu, who is pacing back and forth in a frantic fashion. He sees the camera and snarls. He grabs a steel chair and charges forwards, the cameraperson turning tail and running away.

---

Match 2: Shannon Moore vs. CM Punk​

The show returns to the ring, where ‘Moore On’ is playing and Shannon Moore is pacing in the ring. The bell rings and his name is announced to zero reaction. Then ‘This Fire Burns’ plays and the crowd cheers in excitement for the debut of CM Punk. He makes his way to the ring as Styles and Taz discuss his straightedge lifestyle.

The match lasts less than two minutes. Moore gets a small bit of offense in before Punk takes over and showcases his move set, before winning via submission with the Anaconda Vice. The crowd celebrate and chant 'C! M! Punk!'

---

Match Made for Saturday Night Main Event XXXIII​

As Punk disappears up the ramp, Styles and Taz turn their attention to hyping up Saturday Night Main Event in less than 2 weeks time. They run through the card before Styles makes an announcement.

JOEY STYLES: “And what about this Taz? Breaking news from Paul Heyman. ECW will be represented at Saturday Night’s Main Event, when under Extreme Rules, the team of Matt Striker and Mike Knox will take on ECW originals The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer.”

TAZ: “One to look forward to for sure. I for one hope that geek Matt Striker gets shut up for good. I’m praying for a broken jaw at the minimum.”

---

Backstage Segment​

The show returns from a commercial break. Shannon Moore is walking backstage, holding his neck. He suddenly stops and the camera pans out to reveal the gothic woman from last week’s Bite Club video vignette. She approaches him and talks in a seductive tone.

GOTHIC WOMAN: “You’ve been playing small for too long Shannon. There’s something inside you. A hunger. Don’t fight it. Embrace it. Let us help you.”

She hands Shannon a black envelope, then lets out a low unsettling laugh as she turns and walks away. The camera stays on a confused looking Shannon before returning to the commentary desk.

TAZ: “That is one creepy chick. If I was Shannon, I would burn that envelope.”

---

Main Event - Match 3 - ECW Championship 4 Way Dance Match: RVD © vs. Big Show vs, Kurt Angle vs. Sabu​

Paul Heyman makes his way to ringside for the main event. He sits on a chair besides the commentary team, but doesn’t engage with them. He has a pissed off expression.

The competitors come out to the ring in turn. The crowd is hot, but not for the right reasons. They are well aware of the real life events that led to RVD dropping the WWE Championship last night, being made to look bad and being booked in a title defence tonight. They chant such things as ‘Fuck you Vince,’ and ‘Same old shit.’ As the competitors are called out, the crowd continue to show their displeasure, and even boo as the announcer introduces it as a title match. They then show their support for RVD with a long and loud repetitive ‘Rob! Van! Dam!’ chant. Meanwhile Styles and Taz try to play it off that they are mad with Heyman for not believing in RVD. Finally before the match starts, the referee passes the title to an official, but Heyman tells the official to give it to him.

Each competitor stands in his corner, looking from opponent to opponent. However as soon as the bell goes there is no hesitation as RVD and Sabu go straight after each other, as do Big Show and Kurt Angle. Show and Angle’s braw quickly spills to the outside. Similar to last week’s table match between the two, Big Show is the more dominant, but Angle has tenacity. This leaves space in the ring for Sabu and RVD. They have a rapid exchange where they either evade or quickly counter each other’s moves. On commentary they play up the history between the two and how well they know each other.

Kurt Angle grabs a chair and uses it to fight back against Big Show. However after a couple of hits Big Show punches the incoming chairshot, sending it right back in Angle’s face. Big Show now grabs the chair and waits for Angel to rise. He holds the chair legs and rises it above his head, waiting for the right moment. However at that moment Sabu leans over the ropes and grabs the chair from him. Sabu quickly turns and throws it in the face of RVD. Meanwhile the distraction gives Angle enough time to recover and resume his brawl with Big Show.

Sabu climbs the turnbuckle, chair in hand. He steadies himself, but at that moment Angle, grabbing Big Show around the waist, drives him backfirst into the same ringpost. Sabu loses balance, dropping the chair into the ring, but manages to fall into a seated posting on the top turnbuckle. RVD is up, and seeing an opportunity, runs to the turnbuckle, jumps to the second rope and then delivers a kick to the head Sabu. Sabu falls outside of the ring, but straight into the arms of Big Show. Big Show wastes no time throwing Sabu into Angle and knocking him over.

Big Show, eyeing RVD alone in the ring, and currently down after taking a tumble from delivering the kick to Sabu, climbs onto the apron. RVD quickly gets up and hits Big Show with a spin kick. Big Show is slightly dazed, but manages to hold onto the ropes to stop himself falling back. Behind him Angle and Sabu are just getting to their feet. Big Show regains composure and pulls himself back upright again. RVD throws the collapsed chair at Big Show, who catches it, but RVD follows up with the Van Damninator! Big Show falls back onto the mat (an awkward looking fall to his feet, and then backwards), squashing Angle and Sabu.

With all three men down, RVD sets the chair up by the ropes near to them. He watches, waiting to see the three of them beginning to rise. He looks to the crowd and in union with him they chant ‘Rob! Van! Dam!’ Rob runs the ropes, uses the aid of the chair to hop onto the top rope, then dives onto his three competitors. The crowd roar in appreciation and repetitively chant ‘E! C! W!’

Once on their feet, Angle and Big Show resume their brawl around the camera side of the ring, to the timekeepers area. Big Show sends Angle over the barricade. Around the other side, Sabu lifts RVD up and plants him crotch down on the barricade and strikes him in the chin. Security quickly forces fans to vacate the area as Sabu climbs onto the apron. He hops onto the middle ropes, springboards off and moonsaults into RVD!

The two battles move further into the crowd in opposite directions. The match feels very chaotic as it quickly goes back and forth. Big Show tosses Angle into some quickly vacated seats. RVD hops onto a rail and leaps at Sabu, but Sabu drop kicks him in the air. Angle drives a chair into Big Show’s midsection and then smashes it over his head. RVD leg sweeps Sabu, who falls on his back, and RVD follows up by hopping onto a chair and delivering a backflip splash.

Eventually Big Show and Angle’s brawl continues through an exit door, and the cameras temporarily lose them. Meanwhile RVD and Sabu are fighting by an entry way. A table is conveniently placed there. RVD has a chair, he throws it at Sabu who catches it. RVD goes for a Van Daminator, but Sabu ducks. Sabu dives at RVD’s legs, tripping him. RVD falls down onto the hard floor and Sabu gets back up, immediately landing a leg drop on his opponent. Sabu picks up the chair and waits as RVD gets to his feet. Sabu whacks RVD in the back with the chair, and RVD lands with his upper body sprawled across the table. Sabu, still with chair in hand walks up some stairs overlooking the table. He stops once he is above RVD. It’s not terribly high, but its high enough. He climbs the ledge. The crowd can’t contain themselves with anticipation. Sabu leaps and delivers an Arabian Skullcrusher through the table.

JOEY STYLES: “OH MY GOD! Arabian Skullcrasher!”

Sabu wriggles around in pain on the floor, whilst RVD lies across the two halves of the table lifelessly. The crowd chant ‘Holy Shit! Holy Shit!’ Suddenly through the entrance doors Angle and Big Show burst through. They completely ignore their fallen opponents as they fight over and pass them. Big Show grabs Angle for a chokeslam, but Angle kicks him right in the crotch. As Big Show doubles over, Angle grabs a big black plastic garbage bin. He empties the contents and then places it over the head of Big Show. He then grabs a chair and begins smashing it against the sides of the bin.

Big Show falls down and Angle doesn’t look like he has any intention of stopping with the chair strikes to the sides of the bin. However he is suddenly tackled to the ground by Mike Knox. Matt Striker isn’t far behind and the two begin stomping on Angle. Once they are happy that they have everything in control, Striker assists Big Show with removing the bin and checking in on him. Big Show motions that he needs a moment and tells him to get Angle in the ring.

Knox and Striker force Angle down to ringside, with Big Show slowly in pursuit. Knox and Striker roll Angle into the ring and begin climbing the apron, but suddenly Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman are out to even things up. The Sandman is shirtless, but has big bandages wrapped around his torso following the punishment he took from Knox and Striker earlier on in the show. Sandman of course comes to the party with his Singapore cane and takes great pleasure in destroying it as he strikes Knox with it over and over. Dreamer throws Striker out of the ring and and then joins Sandman in standing over Knox. Unknown to them, Big Show climbs up on the apron behind them. He reaches over the ropes, grabs both of their heads and smashes their skulls together. Both men drop to the canvas holding their heads in agony.

Big Show climbs into the ring and surveys the scene. He goes over to Knox to check on him. However as he turns his back on the ‘downed’ Angle, Kurt quickly turns over to reveal he was playing possum. Angle quietly stalks behind him as the crowd gets excited in anticipation. As Big Show starts to help Knox up to his feet, Angle grabs him from behind and lifts him up for an Angle Slam! Knox gets to his feet, but gets taken back down again as Angle delivers a belly to back suplex. Angle quickly throws himself over Big Show and hooks the leg to pin him. A referee slides into the ring and begins counting. One… Two… But the referee is pulled from the ring by Matt Striker!

Striker climbs the apron, but then hops back down again as Angle takes a swing at him. Knox attacks Angle from behind, and Striker now climbs into the ring to join the beat down. It doesn’t last long though as Sandman and Dreamer get back to their feet and begin brawling with them instead. The two ECW originals send the new blood over the top ropes to the outside. They both turn around straight into the Big Show. He grips them around their throats and lifts them both up delivering a double chokeslam. Big Show then turns and catches Angle trying to sneak up on him again. He grabs Angle and sets him up for a chokeslam too, but he counters, turning it into an Ankle Lock.

A referee enters the ring anticipating a submission. Big Show slowly tries to pull himself towards the ropes. It doesn’t look like he is going to make it and will succumb to the pain. He lifts his hand ready to tap, but suddenly Mike Knox dives under the bottom rope. He grabs Big Show’s hand and stops him from tapping. Striker climbs into the ring and runs at Angle. Angle sees the danger though and releases Big Show. He uses Striker’s momentum against him and sends him back where he came from, tossing him over the ropes. Knox goes for Angle, but he is halted by Dreamer, who takes him down with a Dreamer DDT. As Big Show gets to his feet, Sandman takes him back down with a bulldog. Kurt Angle grabs Big Show’s foot again and applies the ankle lock. Big Show cries out in pain. Knox and Striker try to help, but Sandman and Dreamer block them off. Big Show manages to twist over and kicks Angle off. Angle bounces off the ropes, kicks Big Show in the head and applies the ankle lock for the third time. Striker and Knox continue to try to get in the ring, but Dreamer and Sandman do a good job of keeping them out. Big Show can’t take it anymore. He doesn’t have the energy to counter. He succumbs. He taps. The crowd cheers as Big Show’s elimination is announced.

Big Show rolls out of the ring. Striker and Knox help him to the back. Kurt Angle shows his appreciation to Sandman and Dreamer. They slap Angle on the back for good luck and then leave. Angle looks around for his other competitors and finds Sabu throwing RVD over the barrier to ringside. RVD is busted open from the Arabian Skullcrusher through the table.
RVD finds his feet, but Sabu is waiting for him. Sabu balances on top of the barricade and awaits for RVD to turn around, before leaping at him with a crossbody. Sabu rolls onto his feet, but Angle is there, he grabs his arm and whips him into the barricade. He follows it up with a belly-to-belly suplex. Sabu show resilience getting to his feet, but Angle whips him again, this time into the steel steps. Sabu counters however, hopping onto the step, then onto the ring apron, and finally back at Angle, taking him down with a DDT.

Whilst Angle and Sabu are both down. RVD, with blood down his face, is slowly getting to his feet, holding onto the announcers desk to steady himself. Paul Heyman stares down at him a foot away.

PAUL HEYMAN: “Get up Rob. Get up! Prove to me I was right to believe in you. Prove to all these fans that you are deserving of their affection.” Heyman holds the title up in front of RVD’s face. “Get up and prove that you are deserving of this ECW World Heavyweight Championship.”

RVD stares up at Heyman, then to the belt, and back to Heyman. With a bit of renewed energy he pushes himself to his feet. He grabs the belt out of Heyman’s hands. With purpose, but not so elegantly, he marches around the ring to where his competitors are. Sabu is getting to his feet and RVD slams the title into the back of his head. RVD turns and then takes Angle out in the same fashion. He drops the title, then picks Sabu up and rolls him into the ring.

RVD climbs onto the apron and then delivers a slingshot corkscrew leg drop onto Sabu. RVD leans back over Sabu in a pinning position. The referee counts, one, two, but Sabu kicks out. RVD gets back up, he runs the ropes, sees Angle climbing the apron on the other side so leaps over Sabu and shoulder barges Angle, sending him flying into the barricade. RVD takes a moment to look down at Angle, too long. Sabu is up and he dropkicks RVDs legs causing him to collapse onto the mat.

Sabu stomps on RVD a couple of times. Sabu looks around, something is missing. He leaves the ring and heads to the timekeeper's area to collect a steel chair. He walks over to where Kurt Angle is getting to his feet and throws it in his face. Angle stumbles back and leans against the barricade. Sabu picks up the chair, sets it up, and hurriedly runs back. He runs at Angle, uses the chair to leap into the air, but Angle dodges and Sabu collides into the barrier. Angle picks Sabu up and then crotches him on the barricade. RVD then climbs through the ropes to stand on the apron. He then leaps at Sabu and takes him down with a spinning savate kick.

Angle picks up the steel chair that Sabu set up and smashes it across the back of RVD. He drops the chair and he grabs RVD, pushing him under the bottom rope. He climbs in after RVD, who gets to his feet quickly, and staggers away holding his back. Angle grabs him in a waistlock from behind and performs a German suplex - and he doesn’t let go! Angle suplexes him again! And for a third… no, RVD blocks it. He elbows Angle in the head, then drives him backward into the turnbuckle. Angle releases his grip and RVD turns and kicks him in the head. Angle goes down and RVD races across the ring, bounces off the ropes and lands a rolling thunder. RVD hooks the leg, the referee counts, but Angle kicks out at two.

RVD pulls Angle into the middle of the ring. He climbs the turnbuckle, but Angle rolls away to the other side of the ring. RVD hops back down, he waits for his moment, and then charges at Angle as he gets to his feet in the corner. Nobody’s home though as Angle dodges RVD’s splash in the corner. Angle gets behind RVD and delivers a belly-to-back suplex. Angle grabs RVD’s foot and locks in the ankle lock. RVD cries out in pain. He slowly pulls himself towards the ropes. The camera shows an angle of him reaching for the rope in front of Paul Heyman, who appears to be willing him on. RVD finally makes it, and uses it to help twist around and kicks Angle off him. Angle stumbles forward and straight into a steel chair to the mid section by Sabu!

Sabu throws the chair into Angle’s face and Angle stumbles back, this time stepping back into RVD, who had just pulled himself to his feet in the corner. Sabu shoves the chair into Angle’s midsection again, before setting the chair up in front of him. Sabu runs away and then back again. With the assistance of the chair he goes for Air Sabu. Angle manages to dodge out of the way, but no such luck for RVD who eats the heel kick.

Sabu gets up, but Angle is right upon him. He grabs him and goes for the belly-to-back suplex, but Sabu manages to land on his feet. He turns and runs forward, using the chair to leap onto the top rope and moonsaults into Angle. He pins Angle, the referee counts, one… two… and Angle kicks out. Sabu immediately gets back on his feet and applies the Arabian Clutch to Kurt Angle. Angle is in pain, but slowly manages to get into a crawling position. He pushes up with his back legs, so Sabu falls forward. Angle grabs one of Sabu’s feets and stands up and applies the ankle lock. Sabu flails around, until he is able to grab the chair. He twists, pulling his legs in, and instead of kicking Angle off, he smashes the chair over his head!

Angle falls backwards and slumps against the ropes. Sabu gets up but immediately gets taken out by a leaping roundhouse kick from RVD. RVD kicks Sabu so he rolls over a little closer to the corner. RVD then hops over him into the corner and leaps up, performing a split legged moonsault onto Sabu. He immediately hooks the leg. The referee counts, one… two.. And Sabu kicks out.

RVD picks Sabu up to his feet, he whips him into the corner. RVD follows him in, but Sabu gets a boot up. Sabu lunges at RVD’s feet, taking him down to the mat. Sabu applies the Arabian Clutch on RVD, but Angle comes behind Sabu and delivers a German suplex, holding him in a pinning position. The referee gets down to count, but Sabu kicks out quickly. RVD is up though and performs a standing moonsault onto Angle. RVD gets up but gets a chair thrown into his face by Sabu. Angle grabs the foot of Sabu as he passes him and tries for the ankle lock, but Sabu is able to kick him off before he can lock it in. Sabu turns back towards RVD and gets the chair thrown at him, but he catches it. RVD follows up with a Van Daminator, but Sabu moves out of the way and in one flowing movement, throws the chair into Kurt Angle’s face. RVD comes at Sabu with a flurry of punches and kicks, and then with a legsweep. RVD grabs Sabu from behind. But then Angle grabs RVD from behind. Angle looks like he is going to try to suplex both men, but Sabu slips free and Angle sends RVD flying into a corner with a release belly-to-back suplex. Sabu runs at the ropes and performs a springboard crossbody to take Angle down. He grabs the chair and stomps on RVD several times in the corner. He sets the chair up in front of him, and goes for another Air Sabu. RVD dodges out the way. Sabu gets back up, but Angle grabs him and Angle slams him through the steel chair! RVD climbs the turnbuckle, steadies himself and then delivers a Five-Star Frog Splash to Sabu! RVD rolls over to pin Sabu. Referee counts, one… two… three! Sabu is the second man to be eliminated, leaving Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam to battle it out for the championship.

Angle wastes no time. He grabs the foot of RVD and pulls him off Sabu, applying the ankle lock. RVD crawls towards the ropes and grabs them, but Angle pulls him back away from them. RVD once again crawls to the ropes, this time he pulls himself through them. As RVD drops to the floor, Angle hits the ropes and releases his hold. Angle rolls out the ring. He picks RVD up and runs him shoulder first into the ring post. Angle then rolls RVD back into the ring and climbs in after him. As Angle climbs in though, RVD, down on his back, kicks out one of Angle’s legs, causing him to fall through the ropes. RVD gets up and staggers into one of the corners. Angle comes after him, but RVD gets an elbow up in his face. RVD springboards off the middle rope and then attempts to mule kick Angle. Angle catches the foot of RVD though, who lands on one foot. RVD tries to leap and kick Angle with his free foot, but Angle lets go and dodges. RVD lands with his back to Angle, who tries for the Angle Slam, but RVD counters by leaping and going over the head of Angle. As RVD comes down he rolls Angle up, going for a pin, but Angle keeps rolling and attempts to apply the ankle lock. RVD however quickly kicks Angle off before he can lock it in. Both men get up, and Angle charges at RVD. RVD quickly leaps and kicks Angle in the side of the face, who falls to the mat. RVD goes for the pin. Referees counts, one.. Two.. And Kurt Angle kicks out.

RVD rolls out of the ring and returns with a chair. As he is climbing back in, Angle quickly gets to his feet and kicks the chair back into the face of RVD. RVD collapses over the middle rope. Angle grabs the chair and sets it up. He pulls RVD’s head up so that it is resting on the chair. Angle then springboards off the middle rope and attempts to land a legdrop on top of RVD’s head. But the ECW Champions moves out of the way. Angle hits the chair and then rolls around clutching his leg.

JOEY STYLES: “Angle attempted something from Rob Van Dam and Sabu’s playbook there but to no success.”

RVD lands a slingshot legdrop onto Angle. He goes for the pin. The referee counts, one..two.. But Angle kicks out. RVD starts to pull Angle to his feet, but Angle suddenly rolls RVD into a pinning position with an inside cradle. The referee counts, one… tw.. And RVD kicks out. Both men get to their feet. Angle kicks RVD in the mid section. Angle grabs RVD around the waist and throws him across the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex. Angle goes after RVD, but RVD gets back up clutching the steel chair. He throws it at Angle, who catches it, but RVD follows up with a Van Daminator!

Angle is down, and RVD goes over to the corner. He climbs up, steadies himself and Five-Star Frog Splash! No! Kurt Angle rolls out of the way and RVD rolls around clutching his stomach. Angle somewhat groggily gets up. He grabs the chair and sets it up. He waits for RVD to get up. He looks to be going for an Angle Slam through the chair again. RVD stands. Angle lifts him up but RVD counters. He twists and applies a front face lock, whilst over the left shoulder of Angle. Angle turns around trying to push RVD off him. RVD swings his legs forwards and spikes Angle head first into the steel chair! RVD, a little slower this time, goes over to the corner. He climbs up and steadies himself. Five-Star Frog Splash! This time it connects. RVD rolls over and pins Angle. The referee counts, one..two..three! The bell rings and the crowd roar in delight and in great surprise.

Paul Heyman enters the ring, with his hands back on the championship belt. He raises RVD’s hand and passes him the belt. The crowd chants for RVD who still has blood down his face from the table spot earlier in the match. Slowly Kurt Angle gets up and the crowd quietens down a little. Heyman notices him first and informs RVD. Heyman steps back as Angle approaches RVD. He offers his hand and RVD shakes it. Angle then slaps him on the back before rolling out of the ring and heading backstage. Paul Heyman asks for a microphone and walks back over to RVD.

PAUL HEYMAN: “Rob… congratulations. I’m genuinely happy for you. Because tonight, you proved exactly why I chose you to carry the ECW banner.

But Rob… you may have just doomed us all. It would have made things a lot easier if you had lost.

Everybody here knows what’s going on. You made a mistake. You got into trouble with the law. Last night on RAW, you were put in a position where the WWE Championship could be taken from you. And Rob, believe me - even if you had won that match last night, Vince McMahon would’ve found another way to strip that title off you.

And tonight? Same story. Same orders. I was told to make sure you did not walk out of this building with the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. That’s the reality. That’s the political game. That’s the world we live in.

Last night… you didn’t look like the Rob Van Dam I believed in. And yeah, I was disappointed. Tonight, though? Tonight I saw the man I chose to rebuild this brand around. The man who bleeds ECW. And I could never betray that.

So listen, Rob. Your incoming suspension? I can’t stop that. You know the rules, you know the consequences, and honestly? You know you’ve earned that part.

But what I can control… is what happens in this ring and to that championship. And over my dead body am I going to screw the rightful ECW Champion out of it right now. If I screw you out of this championship, then I’m bowing down to authority, I’m screwing over the entirety of ECW, and diminishing its entire legacy. And as much as I love having ECW back, as far as I’m concerned it's either all or nothing.

So if this costs me my job? If this kills ECW? Then so be it.

At least I can look you, and everyone here in the eye and say I did the right thing by ECW.

So Rob… if this is the last time I get to share this ring with you?
It has truly… absolutely… been a pleasure.”

Heyman holds out his hand, but RVD pushes it aside and hugs him. The crowd chant ‘E! C! W!’ Heyman grabs RVD around the wrist and raises his arm, with RVD holding up the ECW Championship in his other hand. The show fades to black.

---

End of Episode 4​

 

[K-Fabe]

30 seconds after Episode 4 ends…​

My phone rings. Took longer than I thought it would. I answer immediately.

​

VINCE McMAHON: “What the hell was that? Seriously! What the hell did you think you were doing? You put that on my show and didn’t think to clear it with me? Why shouldn’t I fire you right now?”

ME: “Vince, you’ve got every right to be angry. And to fire me.”

VINCE: “Yeah? Good. Because I am. I don’t like surprises. Not that kind. Not on live TV.”

ME: “I get that. And I took that risk knowing exactly how this call might go. But when we talked about bringing ECW back, we agreed no half measures. You said you wanted us to win back the audience we lost going to PG. I made a call that I honestly believe helps us to do that. All I’m asking is a few days. Let the dust settle. See how it moves the needle.”

There’s a tense silence. I can hear him breathing.

VINCE: “…You’re suspended. Indefinitely.”

He hangs up.
I let out a slow breath.
Honestly that could’ve gone a lot worse. Now I wait.