Retro ECW Review Thread

[Attitudester]

ECW Hardcore TV
09/05/1995
Philadelphia, PA
ECW Arena

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The more I begin these retro reviews from 1995, the more I realize how much content I haven’t seen. Also, I’m realizing how much wrestling I really haven’t enjoyed from throughout the years. WWF and WCW weren’t at their best in this era. Part of what made ECW a good alternative was how different it was in comparison.

As WWF and WCW focused on having a perfect, seamless television presentation, ECW focused on what it could do without having all those big-money resources. ECW was gritty, it was raw, it was adult-oriented, and it was cool. While Hogan and Savage were on one channel, Vince McMahon’s famously out-of-touch mentality created the New Generation on the other channel, Paul Heyman went a different route. Guys like Raven, Tommy Dreamer, Mikey Whipwreck, Cactus Jack, The Sandman, and The Pitbulls were giving the bloodthirsty fans of Philadelphia what they wanted.

With mainstays like Shane Douglas and Sabu recently leaving ECW under not-so-good terms, ECW pushed forward with their most loyal roster. The fans appreciated their mainstays. This was an audience that actually cared, unlike the Mall of America or paid-to-attend Saturday Night type crowds WCW had. While watching my first ECW Hardcore TV from September 5, 1995, I got excited again. I’m excited to see the real rise and fall of ECW in real time. I have no idea what storylines we’re in the midst of, what new stars are about to debut, or when the next big stars will leave for WWF or WCW. This is the Retro ECW Review.

Side note: The first few weeks of the Retro ECW review will not be very detailed, as I’m trying to catch up to October so each week can be posted as a 30th anniversary. I’m sticking with the pattern of starting during the week of WCW Monday Nitro’s debut and going to cover all three promotions during this era, at the same time.



Results:

Hack Myers def JT Smith w/ Big Val Buccio via countout

ECW Tag Team Championship Match: Stevie Richards & Raven (champions) w/ Beulah def The Pitbulls



Other notes:

The majority of this episode was highlights of Bill Alfonso and Paul Heyman going back and forth in the ring and backstage. I’m assuming this is when Bill Alfonso began transitioning from being a referee to a manager.

JT Smith had just recently splattered his face on the concrete ringside with his infamous botched dive out of the ring. Joey Styles spends a lot of time talking about this and the crowd is eating him alive during the match. Also, since when do ECW matches end in a count out?

I’m more excited than anything to see Raven’s feud with Tommy Dreamer. This era is PEAK Raven for me. It’s at the height of grunge, Raven is more depressing than ever, and it’s perfect.

A lot of time was also spent showing highlights of another recent show, highlighting a rivalry between Public Enemy and the Gangstas. Gangsta’s Paradise takes place on September 16.

The show ends with an unhinged promo from Cactus Jack, fresh off the King of the Deathmatch tournament in Japan, where he tells the story of his Uncle Willy. Uncle Willy died at war and everyone celebrated him as a hero. He says he hopes Uncle Willy died a painful death because he bombed innocent women and children. Yikes. That’s how we end the show.

 

[Attitudester]

ECW Hardcore TV
09/12/1995
Philadelphia, PA
ECW Arena

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Results:

Tommy Dreamer def Dudley Dudley

The Steiner Brothers def 2 Cold Scorpio and Chris Benoit



Other notes:

Dreamer and Dudley had a fun and chaotic match. Dreamer used several weapons courtesy of the fans at ringside, including a frying pan and several chairs. Big Dick Dudley interfered, but Dreamer beat him with another frying pan and chair as well. Sign Guy Dudley was pulled over the guardrail and given a beating, too. This is the ECW I love.

The Steiners in ECW feels like a fever dream. I don’t know what the backstory is or how they showed up, but this was a fun match with several cringe-worthy spots. The finish was just nasty – a top rope DDT from an electric chair position. Benoit could easily have broken his neck taking this bump.

The build to Gangsta’s Paradise continues as Rocco Rock tortures some dirty baby doll that he found, warning the Gangstas of their fate this weekend.

Taz is interviewed by Joey Styles with a big ol’ dip in his lip. Taz says he’s coming back and it won’t be anything fancy. He’s ready to kick ass.

The Pitbulls challenge Raven and Stevie Richards to a Double Dog Collar match next week. If The Pitbulls lose, they must disband. “If I can’t be a Pitbull, I’d rather die.”