Second Episode of ECW Hardcore TV
Welcome back, week two of our extreme retrospective. Before we dive into that, I want to say a few things first. Number one, I appreciate the fact that I have been given this chance to both write for this website, as well as being able to write about something I’m extremely passionate about, that being pro wrestling. Second, I thank any and all of those who read this article and I hope as this project continues, more and more read it. I welcome any and all feedback. Finally, I noticed a lot of typos and small errors on the first go around, so while not the biggest issue, I really should proof read this when I’m done. Anyways, moving onto this week’s episode.
ECW Episode 2
April 13, 1993
Philadelphia, PA
We open with the same video package last week, something I didn’t mention is that, there are some notable names that pop up in the package that we don’t see as ECW grow. The British Bulldog being probably the biggest name in there. Jay Sully and Stevie Wonderful are our commentary team. Wonderful announces “The King of the Texas Deathmatch” Eddie Gilbert as the third man in the booth, but Sully has none of it. Introducing Terry Funk as not only the real third man, but the real king of the Texas deathmatch. I feel like we’re getting some slow building towards an in ring return by Funk who, at least from me watching this, seems to be in a state of retirement or at least a hiatus from the ring. But, I’m sure he was wrestling during this time frame. We get some humor between Gilbert and Funk, with Funk pouring water down his shirt and then Funk panders to the fans and we cut to commercial.
Round 1 of the TV Title Tournament
Johnny Hotbody vs Glenn Osbourne
This time around, I’m gonna try to give a bit more in-depth match write ups, try to add some more details about the product. Side note, if any of you know of Nate Hatred of CZW fame in the late 90’s/early 00’s, he clearly was inspired by Osbourne, as they look really similiar. Hotbody’s weight also includes his ego, as announced in his ring introduction, which I found funny. We get a standard start, Osbourne takes control early on with a shoulder tackle and some side headlock takeovers. Hold and counter hold to start things off, which from his look alone, doesn’t seem like something Osbourne would be utilizing.
Hotbody sends Osbourne into the buckle face first, then follows up with a very nice vertical suplex. Hotbody slows it down, during this time, I’d like to point out again that, Hotbody looks like a second rate version of Brutus Beefcake. Hotbody with a suplex on the exposed floor, an early taste of hardcore action we’d come to know and love from the promotion.
Back in the ring, Hotbody applies a sleeper, further proving, at least to me, that he was somewhat inspired by Brother Brutus. We get a ref bump, a low blow by Hotbody, and a piledriver to follow up. No ref to make the cover though. Tommy Cairo runs down to ringside and he knocks Hotbody off the top rope, Osbourne follows up with a top rope splash to win the match and advance in the tournament.
Thoughts: It was an okay match. Much like I said last time, these matches are super simple, which isn’t a problem, but after being spoiled with more modern wrestling, it’s not the easiest thing to get that sense of excitement. The ref bump and the continuation of the Cairo/Hotbody angle worked and as a whole, it’s a solid opener.
Winner: Glen Osbourne
Post match, Osbourne cuts a promo, mostly just super excited yelling that he won and advances in the tournament. It’s not the worst promo I’ve heard, but so far, no one has really cut a promo that made me interested in hearing more of them.
Larry Winters and Tony Stetson vs Samoan Warrior and Chris Michaels
We get our first bit of tag action from the promotion. I don’t know if the Samoan Warrior is really part of the bloodline, but he has tights similar to the Samoan Swat Team/Headshrinkers during their WCW run. So, perhaps someone can fill me in on that. Michaels looks like Michael PS Hayes to a small degree, so there is definitely a sense of workers borrowing from more well known wrestlers, probably in an attempt to get over and stand out. I’m probably wrong, but regardless, stuff like that makes you just want the original more than anything else. Winters and Stetson make a fine little team here, lots of scientific, technical wrestling. Mixed with some great double team work, double suplexes, double slams, and the like.
Michaels finally is able to get some offense in, excluding an awkward skin the cat moment in the early going. Warrior in, they do the standard “Samoan guy has a hard head” spot, but it doesn’t have that same impact as it did with the Wild Samoans and the Headshrinkers. We get an assisted leg drop by Stetson and Winters for the win.
Thoughts: This was more a showcase by Winters/Stetson. Michaels just took most of the beating and the Samoan Warrior might as well had not been there. If anything, I look forward to seeing more of Stetson and Winters, provided they meet up with some similarly skilled teams.
Winners: Larry Winters and Tony Stetson
Post match promo by Stetson and Winters is cut shot by Hunter Q. Robbins and the Super Destroyers coming out and we get a short brawl. It’s okay, but at least it sets up a future match.
Up next, we get the TV debut of the Sandman, it still is really odd to see Sandman with this surfer gimmick, knowing later on that he’d become a beer drinking, cane swinging, cigarette smoking hardcore icon. Funk praises him on his charity work with kids and Sandman is super baby face here.
Kodiak Bear vs The Sandman
Kodiak Bear looking like an out of shape, flannel wearing Luke Harper, perhaps that’s where he got his look from. Tygra? Tigra? I don’t know, but she’s the valet of Sandman here and the two make out prior to the official start of the match. Collar and elbow tie up by the Sandman, seeing him actually wrestle is mind blowing, considering, again, he’d be more of a brawler and didn’t seem like he really know any traditional moves. Although, I was never a believer in his ring work, he always felt sloppy, but he was over, and I liked him, so he did something right.
We get some chain wrestling and a school boy by Sandman. Okay, so Tygra/Tigra is Peaches, so either I misheard earlier or wasn’t paying enough attention. I know who Peaches is, but my knowledge on her lore isn’t up to snuff, so I apologize. Kodiak Bear misses a splash in the corner and a missile dropkick and an awkward slingshot shoulder block leads to a sleeper hold variation and Sandman picks up the win.
Thoughts: The worst match on the show so far, not much to say. It’s sloppy, it’s slow, and it doesn’t sell me on Sandman being THE GUY in the company, considering there are other guys who have been showcased so far that are seemingly better in ring and have an interesting look/character to them.
Winner: Sandman
Round 1 of the TV Title Tournament
Eddie Gilbert vs JT Smith
Eddie Gilbert, as some may know, some may not, was the booker for the company around this time. So that’s a nice little tidbit, I guess. We get a hot start, fists a-flying and it spills to the outside within 60 seconds. Gilbert takes it right to Smith, bouncing him around the ringside area and the fight spills out into the crowd. Gilbert clocks Smith with the ring bell as he stumbles back to ringside. Smith attempts a comeback, fighting his way back into the ring, rights and lefts and a big clothesline. Nice fallaway slam and Smith heads up top. Moonsault, but there is no water in the pool and Gilbert rushes Smith with a vicious clothesline. Gilbert reaches into his tights and nails Smith in the head as Smith was attempting a back body drop. Gilbert lands on top of a KO’d Smith and gets the win.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this match, it felt like the right amount of action for the length. I liked the hot opening, with the brawl to the outside and Gilbert being a vicious and dirty heel. Gilbert got the heat on Smith for the majority of the bout and Smith was able to get the fans behind him and get off a decent comeback before being screwed. If this was my first time watching either man, I’d be looking forward to seeing them wrestle again in the future, either against each other or other wrestlers.
Winner: Eddie Gilbert
Tommy Cairo vs Super Ninja
This match is joined in progress, picking up with Ninja working over Cairo. Ninja continues the tradition here of generic ninja gimmicks that have popped up in wrestling countless times over the years. Cairo looks like a star. He’s got a nice build, a nice look, I could have seen him in WCW or WWF if ECW had some more traction during the time he was around. Cairo catches Ninja in mid air and delivers a nice belly to back/German esque suplex. Post match, Johnny Hotbody hits the ring and brawls with Cairo to the locker room.
Thoughts: Well, the match was too short to really have any feelings towards it. The highlight was the continuation of the Hotbody/Cairo feud, which has been building nicely.
Winner: Tommy Cairo
We close the show with Funk and Todd Gordon hyping up next week, which will feature the finals of the ECW TV title tournament, so that’s something to look forward to.
Closing Thoughts
I was impressed, the wrestling itself is about a good as you can expect from a small time promotion during this time period. As I said last time, there was better stuff out there, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever watched. I liked the build of the Cairo/Hotbody feud and I’m eagerly awaiting what I assume will be a confrontation between Funk/Gilbert. Sandman’s match was really the only part that really stunk up the show for me.
Gilbert/Smith, while being nothing more than a vehicle to get Gilbert over as a heel, feeling mostly like a glorified squash match, was fun and I liked it. I’m more interested going into the next episode than I was going into this one. Especially with the TV title tournament wrapping up.
With that said, this week’s Extreme Retrospective wraps up and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Feel free to comment, harass me, or send me dirty messages, or ya know, just read this and enjoy it. Until next time.