ECW on TNN – February 4, 2000: What A Shame
ECW on TNN
Date: February 4, 2000
Location: War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Attendance: 2,000
Commentators: Joey Styles, Joel Gertner
Here’s another series that I haven’t done anything with in a long time. The main story is going to be Mike Awesome vs. Rob Van Dam, meaning tonight’s stories aren’t going to mean much by next week. RVD would break his ankle the night after this was taped, ending the story which could have prolonged ECW for a few more months. Let’s get to it.
Joey and Joel open things up in the ring as is their custom. Joel’s limerick of the week includes a very dated Elian Gonzalez joke which prompts a LOUD “send him back!” chant. Cyrus cuts him off before the profane punch line though and rants from his desk but Van Dam and Fonzie walk by in the back. RVD goes into Awesome’s dressing room and dives over a table to start the brawl.
Opening sequence followed by Joey running down the card.
Living Dangerously ad.
Raven is talking to the Sinister Minister in the back when Heyman comes in and tells Raven to snap out of it already.
Steve Corino/Rhyno vs. Tommy Dreamer/Dusty Rhodes
This is Dusty’s first match in six years and the idea is Dusty is the hardcore pioneer here in Florida. Corino wants to start with Dusty and threatens Dreamer with Rhyno violence if he doesn’t get his wish. Dusty comes in and offers Corino a free shot but runs away from a teased Bionic Elbow. Rhyno tags himself in and is immediately caught in Dusty’s horrible figure four. Jack Victory tries to come in but gets caught in a figure four as well. Even Francine puts one on Corino to complete the obvious joke.
Everything breaks down and they head into the set and crowd. Corino is busted open at Dusty’s hands and Dusty pounds on the cut even more in the ring. Off to Dreamer for a Bionic Elbow of his own but he heads to the floor where Rhyno crotches him on the barricade. Rhyno pounds on Dreamer back inside and hits a Gore in the corner for no cover.
A top rope splash gets two on Dreamer but Rhyno takes too much time going up a second time and Dreamer superplexes him down. Hot tag brings in Dusty and the good guys rain down right hands in opposite corners. Rhyno fights out and Gores Dreamer before clotheslining Dusty down. Dreamer comes back in with a chair to lay out Rhyno and the Bionic Elbow is enough to pin Corino.
Rating: C+. This was about as good as you’re going to get for a structured ECW match. They worked the tag team formula quite well here with Dreamer getting beaten down until he could make the hot tag to Dusty. The idea of Dusty getting his revenge on Corino was fine as well, making for an entertaining match.
The Impact Players are in a hot tub and say they need better competition. This is an excuse for Dawn Marie to be in a bikini and there’s not a thing wrong with that.
Danny Doring and Roadkill want to be tag team champions. Elektra gets annoyed when Doring mentions getting more women. She grabs him low and threatens far worse if he strays and threatens Dawn Marie a bit.
Joel makes fun of TNN because he can.
House show ads.
Mikey Whipwreck talks about how awesome he is and how he’s going to win the TV Title tonight.
TV Title: Mikey Whipwreck vs. Rob Van Dam
Mikey dives on Rob during the extended entrance to get things going. He sends Van Dam’s head into the railing and then into the post before hitting a bad looking rana to take Van Dam down. They head inside and Whipwreck gets two off a slingshot elbow followed by a top rope clothesline for the same. Van Dam hits a spin kick to the face for his first offense and adds the surfboard dropkick into a chair into Mikey’s face for good measure.
Back to the floor and Rob superkicks him over the barricade before hitting the spin kick off the apron into Mikey’s back. They head back inside for the cartwheel moonsault followed by Rolling Thunder onto a chair from the champion. Mikey comes back with a German suplex and a Pedigree onto the chair for two each. Another chair is thrown in for the Van Daminator and the Five Star retains the title.
Rating: D+. This wasn’t bad but it was little more than a spotfest. Mikey was there as a jobber to the stars and nothing more at this point so the match wasn’t going to be much more than a glorified squash. Van Dam could pop a crowd doing anything, which is why the injury really was the final straw for the company.
Mike Awesome is in the parking lot and wants to hurt both Spike and RVD.
Van Dam says his belt means more than Awesome’s.
House show ads.
We close the show with breaking news about Rob Van Dam breaking his leg in Orlando. More details next week.
Overall Rating: C+. This was a pretty decent show with some fun matches and story development, but as I said the whole promotion would be turned upside down by Van Dam’s injury. It completely derailed the main story the company had been building to for weeks and crippled everything they had going. That’s a shame too as this show was pretty entertaining stuff.
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my book on the History of Starrcade from Amazon for just $4 at:
Recent Comments