ECW Hardcore TV
Episode 10
June 8th, 1993
Hey there, I’m back to ring in the new year with the first ECW review of 2017…at least by me. Pardon me being a bit spotty with the reviews the past month, I’m sure you can understand the busy holiday season and all that it brings. Besides, at this point, I don’t even know if anyone is reading this, but, I want to push forward with this. I’d like to see it through or at least get past the early years of the company, as these seem to be the forgotten years.
Also, for those who are reading this, I’m gonna try to up the reviews per week in the new year, hopefully cranking out 2-3 per week instead of just 1. Mostly so it’ll help me get through a lot quicker, as at the rate of 1 per week, it’ll take me like 10 years to get through everything and I’d probably give up on this before then. This also marks my first official wrestling show I’ve watched in the new year, so that’s something I guess. Anyways, enough ramblings as always, I hope you had a great holiday, a fantastic new year, now let’s truly ring it in with some old school ‘rasslin.
Quick recap of some of the things that have gone down in the past few episodes, just for those who may have forgotten or even those who are viewing this for the first time. The Dangerous Alliance/Hotstuff International, consisting of Jimmy Snuka, Paul E. Dangerously, Eddie Gilbert, and the new ECW champion, Don Muraco are the top heel stable in the company. The Suicide Blondes of Chris Candido and Johnny Hotbody are your tag champs, Snuka is the TV champ which further adds momentum to the Alliance, and we are building towards Gilbert vs Terry Funk, at least, of the time of this particular broadcast.
We kick things off with the standard intro package, before heading to ringside, this show marks the debut of the now famous ECW Arena in South Philly, a building that would host many ECW shows over their original run, as well as many other promotions like CHIKARA, CZW, 3PW, and even Ring of Honor would host a show or two there. So this is a big step in finding their identity. Jay Sulli and Paul E are at ringside giving us a run down of the show, which will feature Road Warrior Hawk in action, a battle royal, and the return match for the ECW championship between Don Muraco and The Sandman. Sounds like an exciting hour of action.
Todd Gordon is out now, hyping up the Texas Chain Match between Funk and Gilbert, which the winner is crowned the King of Philadelphia. As Dangerously voices his opinion on the matter, we get Road Warrior Hawk to interrupt, much to the displeasure of Paul E. Hawk cuts a promo putting over ECW, which seems like something you’d see in TNA, where the newest former WWE signee comes in and puts over TNA as the true alternative in the wrestling world and bashes WWE, but at least we don’t get any bashing, so that’s someting I suppose. Not the most riveting stuff, but, it’s not terrible, although Hawk is capable of better promos.
After the promo, we get a recap of the events of the Funk/Gilbert feud, which includes the wild scene of Gilbert blindsiding Funk and battering him with a chair. Terry Funk makes his return to the show, at least in person, as we have gotten pretaped promos by him at the Double Cross Ranch. He comes out dressed for a fight, chain in hand. He goes over the rules of the Texas Chain Match, but is cut off by Dangerously as he comes out to challenge Terry Funk…on behalf of the Dark Patriot. Seems like we’ll get a real treat by the in ring debut, at least on ECW TV, of Terry Funk. Dangerously runs off in fear and it’s kinda funny how he plays the cowardly heel here.
The Samoan Warrior/Don E. Allen vs Road Warrior Hawk
We kick off the in ring portion of this week with a handicap match, as Hawk takes on two guys who we haven’t seen that much of so far, but what we have seen, they’ve been pretty much used as job guys. The two get the jump on Hawk, but Hawk returns with a double clothesline and a big powerslam to the Warrior, Hawk heads up top and delivers a top rope clothesline. He then presses Allen onto of the prone body of Warrior and that’ll wrap this one up.
Thoughts: Short, sweet, and it serves its purpose. That’s all I can ask for in squash matches, put over the star and keep it short. That’s really all I can say here.
Winner: Road Warrior Hawk
Post match, we cut to a promo by Hawk, as he runs down Jimmy Snuka, as we see that the two will have a match next week on the program. We also get to see that there will be an upcoming street fight between Rockin Rebel and Sandman, which hopefully is better than the other encounters they’ve had. As well as a cat fight between their valets, Tigra and Miss Peaches, where the loser will be stripped of their clothes in defeat. Signs of the raunchy and raw product that we’d come to know and love from the company over the years.
Before we get to the next scheduled match, we get a very serious promo by Eddie Gilbert, who looks a bit look a goof with his glasses on, but that’s just a weird observation I suppose. He goes on about how he’ll be the real king of Philadelphia and a real hero for the people to look up to. It’s short, but good stuff.
ECW Pennsylvania State Championship
20 Man Battle Royal
I’ll try to do my best to keep up with the action and the eliminations, but I don’t know how well I’ll do with that. Although, this may be the same match we saw highlights of during the last episode, which interrupted a JT Smith match, not that I’m really complaining, weird that they’d show these things out of order, especially since this was something they planned on showing anyways. So before the action begins, this is announced on the graphic as a 20 man battle royal ,but apparently it’s only 16, so someone isn’t a good fact checker. Anyways, interestingly enough, there are some notable names here like the Sandman, Rockin Rebel, Sal Bellomo, The Super Destroyers, and Larry Winters and Tony Stetson.
The action starts off hot and heavy as Sandman and Rebel go right after each other. Oddly enough, there’s a ref in the ring which makes no sense. Samoan Warrior makes his second appearance this episode, working over JT Smith in the corner. Three teams, the Suicide Blondes, as well as the two I mentioned earlier squaring off with each other, which shows how little depth the tag division really as, as these are the only teams in the division. Much like many other battle royals, lots of punches and kicks, people brawling in a corner, and teasing of eliminations. Nothing really of note to speak of.
The Super Destroyers are eliminated, as is Sal Bellomo, which takes out some strong contenders to win a match like this. We are down to five, the Suicide Blondes, Tommy Cairo, Larry Winters, and Tony Stetson. This is the same match we saw last week, as Winters eliminates both the Suicide Blondes, as well as his own partner, which leads to the two exchanging words and Stetson decking Winters. Meanwhile, Cairo has been pulled from the ring and the Blondes are laying a beatdown on him. No real drama as we head to the finish, as Cairo just tosses Winters out of the ring and he wins the match, as well as the title.
Post mach, Stetson appears to make up with Winters, as he helps him to his feet and the two head backstage, only for Stetson to drive Winters head first into the ring post. Fully cementing his heel turn.
Winner and new Pennsylvania State Champion: Tommy Cairo
Thoughts: Well, it was your standard battle royal, lots of brawling and guys sectioned off in the corner. The highlights were the story coming out of it with Stetson turning on Winters and the fact that there’s another title for the company to ignore now. It’s not terrible stuff, but battle royals are never really that entertaining, at least not until you get down to the last 6 or so guys.
Backstage, Stevie Wonderful is interviewing The Sandman and Peaches about their upcoming matches against the Rockin Rebel and Tigra. Neither cut a truly captivating promo, but I suppose it could be worse, especially when they let Peaches talk. Sal Bellomo cuts a wild promo, challenging Sly Stallone to a match, any kind of match, a boxing match, a wrestling match, he just wants a fight. He kinda reminds me of The Iron Sheik, with his accent and his rambling nature. We even get a little graphic that says “what the heck is he talking about” which is pretty funny.
ECW Tag Championship Match
Glenn Osbourne and Tommy Cairo vs The Suicide Blondes(Johnny Hotboddy and Chris Candido)(c)
Hunter Q. Robins III is the new, official manager of the Blondes, apparently ditching the Super Destroyers in favor of the new tag champs. Osbourne and Candido will kick off this match, as Osbourne barrels over Candido with a shoulder block. The heels get bumped around by Osbourne, as Cairo is tagged in and delivers a pair of nice belly to belly suplexes. This match is taking place right after the battle royal apparently. Osbourne with a leaping clothesline. Match comes to a quick end as Osbourne attempts to run Candido in to the ropes, he ducks and Osbourne is exposed to a shot by Robins cane, allowing Candido to pick up the win.
After the match, Robins announces the newest member of the blondes, Sir. Chris Michaels, but the celebration doesn’t last too long as the Super Destroyers hit the ring to confront their manager or in this case, former manager. We actually get a promo by one of the Destroyers, which I guess I just never thought would happen. Super Destroyers officially fire Robins as their manager, which leads to things breaking down to a brawl as the Super Destroyers clean house and stand tall.
Thoughts: Eh, match was short, they kinda butchered the finish as the ref saw the interference, but didn’t call for the bell, and Cairo just stood around waiting for his buddy to eat the pinfall, which the ref was also late on counting. Nothing to get into and the short nature of these title matches really hurt the importance of the belts, hard pass here.
Things aren’t done yet, as the Super Destroyers call Gordon out to the ring and they want a match for the titles, the two teams continue to brawl, leading to the Destroyers once again cleaning house and Gordon signs the match for next week.
Winners and Still Champions: The Suicide Blondes
Before we head to the main event between Muraco and Sandman, we get a run down of the upcoming Summer Sizzler event, including the Texas Chain match, Dick Murdoch vs. the Dark Patriot, and a first blood match between Larry Winters and Tony Stetson, which honestly seems like a pretty solid card for the time. Hopefully some of those matches will make it to air, if not, maybe one day, the Network will see those shows be added.
ECW Title Match
Don Muraco(c) vs The Sandman
We join this match in progress, last week, Muraco, with help from Paul E, won the championship and gave Hotstuff International a second title to add to their collection. Sandman works over a headlock for some time, before Paul E is able to use a distraction by Peaches to help Muraco free. Muraco with a huge knee lift in the corner and he chokes Sandman in the corner, as does Paul E behind the ref’s back. Slugfest in the middle of the ring and Muraco gets tied up in the ropes, freeing himself only to eat a back elbow. Abdominal stretch by Muraco, Paul E with the assist for leverage, as the two work this hold for all its worth. Sandman frees himself, chasing after Paul E who was going after Peaches, he gets leveled by Muraco and we get a count out win for the champ.
Thoughts: Snoozefest. This had lots of slow, plodding “action”, the two working over headlocks and holds for a majority of the match, a lame finish, and nothing to really sink your teeth into. Another hard pass here.
Winner via Countout and Still Champion: Don Muraco
Gilbert mentions that he’ll be in a special exhibition chain match next week, also, Terry Funk will be in action against the Dark Patriot, so that match is next week and I was mistaken. That’ll bring this show to a close.
Closing Thoughts
I have no real positives here, at least from an in ring standpoint. We did see some okay promos, especially by Bellomo for the sheer insanity and Gilbert’s promo against Funk. However, the matches were pretty bland, it was a chore to get through, and I just couldn’t wait for it to come to an end. Which, sadly has been the case for a lot of these episodes.
With that said, next week seems like it has some potential and it has me somewhat excited, but I won’t get my hopes up too much. That closes out this week’s review, I’ll see you soon with another one and I hope the new year is treating you right in its early stages. Until next time.