Taped from Philadelphia, PA
Airdate: June 12, 1998
Hosted by Joey Styles
From the WWE Studios Joey welcomes us to another installment
of the History of ECW. This week’s episode emanates from the ECW Arena. In this
episode Kronus will face Jamie Dundee previously of PG-13. A memorial segment
for the Junkyard Dog will also be shown. Joey relates some memorable JYD accomplishments
and feels honored to have worked with him in ECW.
We flash back to Wrestlepalooza ’98 and JYD’s appearance.
His reception has to be seen to be appreciated. The opener follows.
Joey opens the program by stating that Joel Gertner will
leave Dudleyville if the Dudley Boyz do not apologize for retiring Beulah last
week in New Orleans.
Match 1: Kronus versus
Jamie Dundee
Oh dear Lord! Dundee looks ridiculous in a jester hat. After
Kronus enters the ring Dundee touts Kronus’ involvement in the Eliminators. He
then touts PG-13 and the crowd rightfully boos. Next he runs down Kronus for
getting dumped by Saturn. Kronus makes him eat a leg lariat for that one. While
Kronus makes Dundee eat some knuckle sandwiches our Hardcore History nugget
tells us that Kronus was trained by WWE Hall of Famer Killer Kowalski.
After slamming Dundee Kronus backs his way up to the top
turnbuckle but misses the splash. Dundee removes his jacket and chokes Kronus
with it. A cross-corner whip by Dundee gets reversed. He leaps to the second
rope to deliver a back elbow but looks ridiculous in the process. The crowd
proudly announces “You fucked up” at Dundee.
Kronus whips Dundee off the ropes and gives him a
clothesline. Another slam by Kronus leads to a missed senton. Dundee comes back
with a forearm to the back of the neck. After a snapmare he mounts the second
turnbuckle and gives Kronus the double stomp to the gut. He cross-corner whips
Kronus and gives him a handspring karate chop? Seriously? Kronus nails him
between the eyes to show how lame that was.
To show Dundee how to properly perform the maneuver Kronus
delivers a sweet double handspring back elbow. Next Kronus slams him and mounts
the top turnbuckle. He finishes Dundee off with the 450 splash. *
Highlights of the six-man tag match from New Orleans are
shown. The Dudley Death Drop (a.k.a. the move that retired Beulah) is featured.
Joey is disgusted by the actions of the Dudley Boyz and refers to them as
“scum.” Methinks Joey and DDP have shared a brew or two previously.
Highlights of House Party ’96 are shown where Stevie tries
to kiss Beulah but is DENIED! She then informs him she’s pregnant. Raven
interrupts and badmouths Beulah. She rebuts by telling him “(the baby’s) not
yours.” Raven then punks out Stevie. Beulah screams at them to stop since it’s
not Stevie’s either. She declares “it’s Tommy’s” and Raven begins to choke her.
Dreamer comes to her rescue, lands a few right hands, and DDTs Raven. Dreamer
and Beulah clear the ring as the crowd chants “Beulah!”
Dreamer continues to punish Raven on the outside with
weapons and a whip to the steel railing. He then grabs a fan’s sign that reads
“Tommy, use my sign!” Subsequently he nails Raven with it, unwraps it to reveal
a STOP sign, and then DDTs Raven onto it. Beulah hands Dreamer a pie. After
taking a big bite Dreamer piledrives Raven on the pie atop the STOP sign.
Dreamer and Beulah embrace afterwards. Classic ECW stuff there, folks.
Lance Wright is in a parking garage backed up by Jack
Victory. He will interview the Dudley Boyz and Joel Gertner who stand behind an
ambulance. Victory frisks Gertner as a precaution. Gertner issues an ultimatum
to the Dudley Boyz: either apologize in person to Beulah or lose the services
of Gertner. Bubba says he doesn’t want to lose Joel’s services and will
apologize.
Bubba opens the back door of the ambulance to reveal D-Von
caught red-handed atop a blow-up doll on the gurney. Oh. My. God! D-Von claims
that Beulah gave him crabs. Bubba notifies Tommy about his girlfriend’s
distribution of her venereal diseases. Yuck! He then gives a faux apology. Wow!
A completely tasteless yet effective segment making the Dudley Boyz the evil
hunted.
Joey apologizes to us for giving Joel Gertner too much
credit. He then segues to the conflict between the World Tag Team champions and
Fonzie’s men. Unfortunately Lance Storm could not make the flight to
Philadelphia in time.
The Triple Threat is in the back having a “meeting.” Candido
laughs about Storm’s flight arrangements and needs to find another partner. Bam
Bam Bigelow volunteers, but Shane Douglas interjects himself into the match.
Now the Triple Threat is in the ring. Douglas has the
microphone and “has heard a lot about…Rob Van Dam.” The crowd cheers. While
Douglas reminds us that Candido and BBB hold up their end of the bargain he tells
a heckler where to go and provides directions. The crowd actually jumps all
over the heckler! Wow!
According to Douglas, “I have heard from the Internet, the
smart marks, the sheets that Rob Van Dam is the real singles champion here in
ECW.” He cuts a promo on RVD and states that the ECW Arena is the house that he
built not RVD. He then puts forth the challenge of RVD and Sabu versus Chris Candido
and Shane Douglas.
Highlights of Taz’s interaction with Shane and the Triple
Threat are shown.
After a commercial break, highlights of the match from “A
Matter of Respect ‘98” are shown followed by highlights of last week’s match
between RVD and Storm.
Match 2: ECW World
Heavyweight champion Shane Douglas and Chris Candido (w/ Francine) versus ECW
World Television champion “Mr. Monday Night” RVD and Sabu (w/ Fonzie)
Before the match starts Douglas grabs the microphone and
states “…it’s time we find out who is the greatest singles champion in ECW.” It
should be noted that a collection of signs to the left of Hat Guy anoint RVD as
“The Best There Is, Wuz, and Ever Will Be.” While I enjoy RVD’s style he’s no
Bret Hart.
Anyways, Sabu and Candido start. Sabu gets a single-leg
takedown but misses the elbow. A cross-corner whip culminates with Candido
pancaking Sabu. Candido then gives him a snap suplex. He hoists Sabu onto the
top turnbuckle and tries to give him a huracanrana; however, Sabu counters by holding
onto the top rope. Sabu then delivers a top rope leg drop for a 2 count.
We move ahead to a rope sequence between RVD and Candido.
But when RVD drops down split-legged in preparation for a leapfrog, Candido
dropkicks him in the face instead! He follows with a clothesline and a slam
before heading to the second turnbuckle. He then delivers a leg drop which Joey
dubs “the New Jersey Jam.” Jay-Z would be proud.
Candido hoists RVD up in his delayed vertical suplex, but
RVD escapes and gives Candido a standing sidekick. Next he whips Candido off
the ropes and delivers a great standing dropkick. We move ahead to where RVD
delivers a tumbling splash to Candido. We then fast-forward to where Douglas
enters the ring. It should be noted that Douglas Is not dressed to wrestle as
he wears his Triple Threat t-shirt and black jeans.
Appropriately for Douglas he acknowledges this confrontation
between the two singles champions with a middle finger to RVD. Douglas ducks a
spin kick from RVD and pokes him in the eye. He takes RVD to the corner and
works him over with chops and punches. Douglas whips RVD out of the corner only
to whip him back into the same corner. He then gives RVD a powerslam then
favors his injured elbow.
RVD kicks Douglas in the face then gives him a leg lariat and
a corkscrew legdrop. Douglas counters with a low blow while RVD was
showboating. He works RVD over in the corner then cross-corner whips him. A
blind charge hits boot and RVD grabs Shane’s injured arm. As he holds the arm
he walks the top rope and legdrops the arm! RVD tries an armbar submission but
Candido saves.
We jump ahead to where Fonzie and Francine are in the ring.
They tussle while Taz hits the ring. Douglas tries to suplex him, but Tax
counters and applies an armbar submission move on him. Bigelow hits the ring to
fight with Taz. Meanwhile Sabu sets up a table in the middle of the ring.
Sabu and RVD place Candido on the table as Taz and BBB
continue their brawl at ringside. They then come off opposite top turnbuckles
and deliver the double legdrop through the table to Candido! ECW! ECW! ECW! RVD
covers and gets the pin! **1/2
Out in the parking lot Bigelow and Taz are still going at it.
BBB whips Taz into a parked car and Taz’ elbow shatters the front passenger
window!
Joey closes out the show dictating that there is “no clear
#1 Alpha male in ECW.”
Overall this show presented a nice hodgepodge of the current
ECW storylines. The match between Kronus and Dundee was forgettable at best,
but the Dudley Boyz interview was certainly risqué and ground-breaking. Seeing
the entire “Beulah is pregnant” segment was a definite treat. The main event
was ECW-rific with that tremendous climax of a finish. What will happen next?
Stay tuned to further reports of the History of ECW! Happy Holidays!
Be sure to visit http://www.rockstargary.com to check out more info on me!
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