1st Match: The Eliminators vs The Dudley Boys, ECW World Tag Team Championships. This is a squash match that is basically a bunch of spots in a row, granted, all the matches on here are spotfests. I of course am not going to watch this expecting a lot of technical prowess, I'm watching this for the spots. The Eliminators dominate the whole match, and the crowd loves the Dudleys getting destroyed for 6 straight minutes. An entertaining start to the show. Rating: 3/52nd Match: Rob Van Dam vs Lance Storm. This is a good match, I've been waiting to see Rob in a match for so long. This is also the first Lance Storm match I've ever seen, so it's a good start for me. The matches on here have a few blown spots, and there are some pretty weak chair shots here, but a good back and forth match that hits hard. Rating: 3.5/53rd Match: The Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada and Masato Yakushiji vs bWo Japan. Another entertaining match that is just wall to wall spots. I have no idea who any of these guys are, but it's really fun to see these guys just fly all over the place. Rating: 3.5/54th Match: Pitbull #2 vs Shane Douglas, ECW World TV Championship. Oh hey, it's Dean Douglas, remember him? All joking aside, this match drags on forever. The story going into it is alright, Pitbull 2 wants to avenge his injured tag partner, and while there's nothing technically wrong with the match, it goes way too long. After the match, Rick Rude and Brian Lee ambush Shane and get a huge pop. Rating: 3/55th Match: Sabu vs Taz. Billed as "The Grudge Match of the Century", which given how hard these guys hit each other, I'm inclined to believe. They go into the crowd, through tables, crazy spots, ECW in a nutshell basically. I wish I could say more about these matches, but they are all literally just spots. Even though guys are getting hit with some insane moves, they practically no-sell them and move onto the next spot. Tazmission gets the win, and Sabu gets suplexed into another lifetime, I remember that. After the match, Taz shakes Sabu's hand, which sets up an ambush from Sabu and RVD, Fonzie then joins them and leaves Taz beaten at ringside. A surprising finish, and a good way to set up some more hatred for Fonzie. Rating: 4.5/56th Match: Stevie Richards vs Terry Funk vs The Sandman, Three-Way Dance. The winner of this gets a shot at Raven's belt later on, and by "later on", I mean immediately after this. Tommy Dreamer is on commentary, but he's not very good at it. He's here to support Funk though, so it's OK. Funk does a moonsault off a ladder, he's 53, that's impressive, even though he misses. Another nice brawl, with Funk getting the underdog win. Rating: 4.5/57th Match: Terry Funk vs Raven, ECW World Heavyweight Championship. Raven is out immediately, and beats Funk all over the place. Raven says he's gonna end Funk's career right in front of Tommy, which provokes Dreamer into saving the day. Funk gets the sympathy win, and while it didn't last long, it was a feel good end to the show. Rating: 3/5Final Rating: 7 out of 10. ECW got off on the right foot here. All the matches revolve around sick spots, a hot crowd, and brutality. ECW takes no prisoners, welcome to the Age of Extreme!
... View More1. ECW Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match - The Eliminators Vs. Champs-The Dudleys - Exhibitioof co-moves by eliminators. Saturn and Kronus get the sh*t out of them. That was nice, but Dudleys did not offensive and ate lost. But... 9/10 2. Rob Van Dam Vs. Lance Storm - One unbelievable match! They both are in best shape! 10/10 3. Great Sasuke/Gran Hamada/Gran Naniwa Vs. Terry Boy/Dick Togo/Taka Michinoku - ANOTHER exciting and very fast match! 9/10 4. ECW TV Title Match: Champ-Shane Douglas Vs. Pitbull - Very self-conscious match, they both seemed totally unprepared. Crowd shouted Boring all the time and they're right. 5.5/10 5. Taz Vs. Sabu - The can do it better, but very good match. It seems like Mr. Wrestling-Sabu starting' to lose his breath. 8.5/10 6. 3 way Dance: Stevie Richards Vs. Terry Funk Vs. Sandman - I'm out of my mind when 53-years old Terry Funk did moonsault from the top of ladder! Do that Hogan in 1997, you legend! Barb wire, thrash can, they were really hurt. Funk won.9/10 7. ECW World Heavyweight Title Match: Champ-Raven Vs. Terry Funk - Maybe little unrealistic victory by Funk again. 8/10
... View MoreECW presented Barely Legal on April 13, 1997 from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The first match if for the ECW Tag Team Championship, Bubba Ra & D-Von defend the titles against The Eliminators. It was a very fast paced match with a very fast start to it. The Eliminators get the win in the end.Next is Lance Strom, who was supposed to face Chris Candido, facing Rob Van Dam. It was a 5 star match, with innovative moves by Rob Van Dam.We move on to a Six Man Tag Team Match that was a very fast paced and very extreme match. This match had a ton of great wrestling in it.ECW Television Championship Match is next, Shane Douglas vs. Pitbull #1. It was a boring 18 minute match, that had some hot points in it.Next is my personal favorite, Taz vs. Sabu! This was the show stealer for sure. Taz has really toned down now, he used to be a tough guy back in the day. Sabu was innovative in his match as always and of course it delivered.Next is Terry Funk vs. Sandman vs. Stevie Richards. This was a bigger show stealer. It had many extreme points and kept the fans busy throughout the entire brawl.Next Terry Funk gets his ECW World Heavweight Championship Match against then champion Raven. It seemed that Raven dominated the match and Funk had some time in there as well. It really built the audience up to the point where Funk won the Title, thus ending a classic pay per view.
... View MoreWOW, What a PPV to kick off the great wrestling company that was ECW. It kicked off with the ECW titles being defended by the Dudley Boyz against The Eliminators. A great match showing some innovative moves. The next math pits RVS against Lance Storm, a fairly good match apart from the odd blown spot and some weak chair shots. These two have come along way since then. Next is an awesome japanese six-man tag match. Has to be seen to be believed, this match features Taka Mitchinoku who later wrestled in WWF/WWE. Now for the worst match of the night, Pitbull #2 Vs Shane Douglass. way too long and slow. Then a good match between Taz & Sabu. The the main event, terry funk Vs sandman Vs stevie richards. An elimination match where the winner faces Raven for the ECW title, Very bloody and brutal, some surprises as well. A great first ECW PPV, a deffinate must see. I give it 8.5/10
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