Yo-Yo's Roomie

ECW TV Episode 29 - 16/7/93 Joey Styles is in the ring to welcome us to the show. "Tonight is going to be a blockbuster edition of ECW TV, as we have the rematch for the ECW championship between former champion Lex Luger and the new champion, Bobby Eaton. And big news regarding that match, this came from the ECW match-making committee earlier today- Ron Simmons has been banned from ringside for that main event match. Let's take a look at why". Replay of Simmons interfering in the championship match at Declaration of Violence. When we cut back to the arena, we see that Ron Simmons is making his way into the ring, and he looks pissed off! He grabs the mic from Joey. "Just another example of the white man trying to keep an honest brother down, Joey. Let me ask you something, where is the edict that Sabu is banned from ringside, huh? Yeah, I thought so. I look around at this sea of ignorant white faces, and I can feel the hatred you all have towards me. I feel the hatred from you, Joey, I feel the hatred from the other wrestlers, and I feel the hatred from the powers that be here in ECW. Well, I tell you what, why don't you bring out my opponent for tonight, and I'll dispatch him, and then get my black ass out of this stinkin' city, and back to Georgia. Bring out the Indian". Christopher Chavis's music hits and he makes his way out. Simmons still has the mic. "You dance your ass out here, red man, so I can whoop it. You're a disgrace to your people, pandering to all these palefaces, after what whitey has done to you". Chavis hits the ring and unloads on Simmons with a barrage of offence as the bell rings. Match 1: Ron Simmons Vs 'The Warhorse' Christopher Chavis. 10 min time limit. Chavis dominates the match, and has Simmons begging off and trying to walk. However, Simmons manages to grab Chavis's tights and pull him face first into the turnbuckle, and then quickly capitalises with the Emancipation Proclamation to get the duke after 4 mins. Simmons lays another couple of boots in before leaving the ring. Styles says Simmons has been on a rampage as of late, and talks about him putting both Sandman and Larry Zbyszko through tables in the last week and a half. Some still black and white images show the destruction of the Arabian death match between Sabu and Nord, and then a graphic announces that Sabu will be returning to ECW TV next week. We're inside a dingy dive bar, where some local hard rock band is performing on a stage in front of a crowd of headbangers. The door opens and Mike Shaw, Madusa and a referee walk in. The band stops playing and everything is silent. We see that one of the guitarists on the stage is Maximilian Payne, and Woman is standing by the side of the stage. Shaw tells Madusa to wait outside. Payne takes off his guitar and gives a nod to the band, who start up playing again. Payne jumps off the stage as the mosh pit parts around him. Shaw nervously steps into the mosh pit. Match 2: Maximilian Payne Vs Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw. "Mosh Pit Match". The two start brawling, as the mosh pit starts up again around them. Payne is in control, but Shaw fights back and bounces Payne's head off the stage. A couple of 'moshers' bump into Shaw so he decks them, sending one crashing into a table. Payne has taken a drink from a bottle and spits it out into Shaw's face, then smashes the bottle over his head. He whips him into the stage, but Shaw fights back with a kick to the balls. Powerslam from Shaw, but he misses the Guaranteed Finish. They end up brawling onto the stage, and Payne puts Shaw's head through a drum, and then hits him with a cymbal. Shaw rolls back into the mosh pit, but Payne takes a running leap on him, bowling him over with a cross body black stage dive, and pinning him in the middle of the mosh pit. Payne and Woman make out over Shaw's beaten body, as the mosh pit closes in around them. Time of match; 8 mins. A video shows Sid Vicious powerbombing the referee after his and Brad Armstrong's defeat to Straight Outta Compton last week. Joey is in the lockerroom area, and he hypes up SOC Vs the Arkansas Hit Squad for the tag titles next week, before he introduces Brad Armstrong. He says Sid was levied with a 2 week suspension for his actions, and asks Brad for his reaction. "Well, it ain't my place to talk for Sid Vicious, and I certainly don't condone what the big man did, but I will say that I can understand why he did what he did, because the bottom line is that that official made a bad call. Two guys pinning one guy doesn't exactly seem fair to me, but I ain't here to cry or complain. In fact, I don't wanna look back, I only wanna look forward, and I know I can't move forward until I end this thing with my brother once and for all. This ain't Sid Vicious's fight, and it ain't even Tracy Smothers or Tre Smooth, or whatever he's calling himself's fight. This is between me and Brian, so Brian, I'm challenging you to one last match, two weeks from tonight. Whaddaya say we settle this thing once and for all?" Larry Zbyszko comes out and grabs a house mic. "First thing I wanna do is challenge Ron Simmons to a match next week. Simmons, you run your mouth a lot, and it's great attacking people from behind, or kicking them when they're already down, but one on one I know I can tie you in knots, and it would give me great pleasure to do just that. But the real reason I'm out here is that I want to talk about the Sandman. Mr Sandman, would you indulge me and come out here right now so we can have this out and get a few things straightened out?" Sandman comes out. S-"I thought I'd made it clear that I don't want to hear anything you have to say". LZ- "That's your trouble right there, buddy. You're too pigheaded to listen, and once you've made your mind up about something, that's the end of it. Well, you are going to listen to what I've got to say. You see, you have a major problem with me because I said the two words that you would never say. I said I Quit, and because of that we lost our match to Luger and Simmons. You think I don't get that? I'm the one who has to live with that for the rest of my life. But here's the thing, pal, I made a promise to you that I would never quit, but I made another promise. I made a promise to Lori, your wife. I made a promise to Tyler, your son. I promised them that I would protect you, not from Luger and Simmons, and from yourself, because they knew as well as I did that you would never quit. You said it yourself- you would have rather died in that ring that lose that match. Well, I wasn't gonna let that happen, so I took the burden of doing what you were too proud or too stupid to do. I quit, Sandman, not you, and if it cost you a match, well just be glad it didn't cost you a whole lot more". Sandman is taking this in, and then asks for the mic. Zbyszko hands him the mic, and Sandman pops him right in the head with it, laying him out. Styles acts shocked. Sandman just walks away, muttering 'you don't talk about family'. Joey says it's sad that these two friends have been torn apart like this, and says Sandman has a chip on his shoulder. Match 3: 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton Vs Lex Luger. ECW championship match with about 15 mins left in the show. Lot of pomp and circumstance with the intros to try to give this a big match feel. Feeling out process has Luger overpowering Eaton at every turn, but then Eaton starts to frustrate Luger with some scientific wrestling and veteran savvy. Luger finally catches Eaton with a big boot to gain firm control, but it doesn't last long as Eaton makes a big comeback. Styles sells big time shock as Jim Cornette makes his way down the aisle at the 5 minute mark. Luger slinks out the ring and confers with Cornette as Styles speculates on what is going on. Luger gains control with a thumb to the eye and starts to use his power offence to dominate, but once again it's short-lived and Eaton fights back, catching nearfalls with a small package and a sunset flip. Cornette soon loses his cool, and when Eaton is delivering 10 punches in the corner, Cornette summons out Ron Simmons who rushes the ring and the two overpower Eaton as Cornette directs traffic. The match is thrown out after 10 mins, as Luger and Simmons lay the boots into Eaton. Luger applies a Torture Rack, but referees, Christopher Chavis, Brad Armstrong and Larry Zbyszko come out, causing the heels to scarper. After a couple of replays, and Eaton getting back to his feet, we cut to the back where Styles has caught up with Luger, Simmons and Cornette, who takes the mic. "One thing you should know about me better than anyone, Eaton, and it's something you could have reaped the benefits of yourself if you hadn't been so stupid last week, is that I can call gap teeth real estate and sell it in a trailer park, and what I've done is I've sold an idea. I sold an idea to the ECW championship committee. 3 weeks Bobby, that's how long you have left of this little dream of yours, because I brokered a deal and the match is official. It's going to be Bobby Eaton defending the ECW title against Lex Luger in a no holds barred match. Tonight, we sent the message, 3 weeks we take the belt. And I'll tell you something else, next week I have some business to take care of elsewhere, but these two men are going to make a big statement here on ECW TV, and take care of another little problem, and that's a Cornette guarantee". They leave, and Styles pimps next week's show, the tag titles, Zbyszko/Simmons and the return of Sabu.

ECW TV Episode 28 - 9/7/93 Joey Styles is in the ring to start the show. "Ladies and gentlemen, the ECW champion- 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton". Eaton makes his way out as Styles heads to his commentary table. BE- "Lex Luger, you made a point of saying that I was good, but not great. Well... (looks at the TV title on one shoulder, and the ECW title on the other) This feels pretty great to me. Now, winning this championship is one of the greatest moments of my career, and I promise you, the great ECW fans, that I will work so hard to be a champion you can be proud of, and..." Eaton is cut off by his own music playing and he looks confused. Confusion turns to shock as James E. Cornette makes his way down the aisle. JS- "Is that who I think it is? Jim Cornette, the long-time manager of Bobby Eaton and the Midnight Express. What's he doing here in ECW? As far as I know he's contracted to World Championship Wrestling". Cornette climbs into the ring, looks at Eaton for a moment, and then embraces him with a big hug, and holds his arm in the air in victory. Cornette has a mic. "Bobby, first of all I want to apologise for not being there in person to see you become ECW champion. Contractual obligations meant I had to miss the biggest win of your career, and I'm truly sorry for that. However, as soon as I heard the news, I knew I had to be here tonight to congratulate you in the flesh. You truly deserve this. We traveled up and down the roads together for many years, and I know in my heart that nobody has earned this moment more than you. That being said, now that you have won the big one, now that you are the man here in ECW, there's going to be a lot more responsibility on your shoulders, and a lot more opportunity too. There's lots to prepare for, and lots of plans to be made, but don't worry, because that's why I'm here. Now, if you just give me my 10% of the winner's purse, I can get straight to work setting up interviews, getting merchandise deals in place..." "Whoa, whoa, whoa! 10%? What 10%?" "My standard 10% manager's fee. Now, I know I haven't been around recently, but I have been working diligently..." "Let me stop you right there, Jimmy. Now, I genuinely thought you had come out here to congratulate me, but now I see, just like always, that this is all about money for you. I hate to break it to you, Jim, but there isn't going to be any 10%, because you're not my manager anymore. You haven't been my manager for years, and you didn't want anything to do with me until I became ECW champion. Well, I won this title without you, and I'll continue to defend it without you." "Think hard about what you're saying there, Bobby. You were nothing before I started handling your affairs, and you wouldn't be where you are right now if it wasn't for me. I only come out here asking for what's mine, for what I deserve. (poking Eaton aggressively in the chest) That's always been the problem with you, Bobby, you're too stupid to know a good deal when you see one. One lucky win and you forget where you came from and who made you what you are, you ungrateful bastard". He slaps Eaton in the face. Eaton thinks about it for a moment, and then slugs Cornette in the chops, which Cornette sells as a KO. "There's your 10%, Jimmy". Eaton holds up his belts and leaves. Styles introduces CCTV-style footage filmed after Declaration of Violence, in Lex Luger's lockerroom. Luger is throwing shit around, as Ron Simmons tries to calm him down. "This can't be happening. How can this be happening? Don't tell me to calm down, Ron. If you'd have got the job done against Eaton, I wouldn't be in this situation". RS- "I know you're pissed off, Lex, so I'm gonna let that slide. But if you ever try to blame me for your failures again, you're going to have a real problem on your hands". "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Ron. I'm just... I can't believe this is happening. What do we do?" "We do what we always do. When we lost a match to Sandman and Zbyszko, did we lose our cool? No. We turned around and we didn't just beat them, we humiliated them. We destroyed them. And this is no different. We go to the championship committee and demand a rematch, and then we fix this problem". "And what about the other problem? What about Sabu?" "Sabu made a big mistake coming back to ECW, and injecting himself into our business. We get the belt back first, and then we take care of Sabu". "Thanks, brother". Styles says that Luger has been granted a rematch, and that it will take place next week on ECW TV. Match 1: Azrael Vs The Highwaymen. Handicap match with 10 minute time limit. The Highwaymen target the leg of Azrael, and use quick tags to wear him down, before going for the Stand and Deliver. Azrael blocks the kick, pushing Henry back into the corner, and then sends Mason over the top rope. He then hits the Dance of Death on Henry and pins him after 5 mins. Azrael barks into the camera "the greedy has been slain, next will fall the vain". Styles tells us that our main event tonight is a rematch from Declaration of Violence, in which Straight Outta Compton will face Brad Armstrong and Sid Vicious, but this time the winners will go on to face the Arkansas Hit Squad for the tag team titles. Match 2: 'Magnificent' Marc Mero Vs Tommy Dreamer. 10 mins. Dreamer is already in the ring, jobber-style. Styles introduces him as a local wrestler looking to make a name for himself in ECW. Mero makes short work of him in a basic squash match, finishing with the Widowmaker in 3 mins. A backstage promo from Maximilian Payne, with Woman. "Mike Shaw, as much fun as it was when myself and Woman defeated you and Madusa at Declaration of Violence, I told you that we would meet one more time, one on one, and that it would be on my terms. Well, I have decided my terms, and they have been accepted by the ECW booking committee. Next week, on ECW TV, it will be you and me in the first ever Mosh Pit Match. All I need to know is whether you will accept the challenge. Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be. As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy. And I swear that I don't have a gun, no I don't have a gun..." He laughs sinisterly as Woman stares a hole through the camera. Scott Levy is in the ring, with his head bandaged up. "It is typical of the biased nature of this company, that mere days after I fought valiantly inside a steel cage, and I was cheated out of that victory by the way, I should have to come out here and compete again. I can assure you that the attempts by the powers that be here to hold me down will not be successful, and you can mark my words that there is championship gold in my future". Match 3: Scott Levy Vs 'The Warhorse' Christopher Chavis. 10 mins. Levy is very aggressive here, and dominates much of the match as Styles talks about the inexperience of the Warhorse. However, Chavis makes a comeback and finishes Levy off with the fallaway slam that he calls the War Cry. 5 mins. Styles says that Ron Simmons has challenged Chavis to a match next week. Match 4: Straight Outta Compton Vs Brad Armstrong and Sid Vicious. TV time remaining, which is about 15 mins. The Arkansas Hit Squad join Joey on commentary. They say that they don't care who wins this match as they've beaten all four of these guys before, and remind everyone that it was their attack on Brian Armstrong that caused his transformation into Brian X, and say maybe next time when they're done with him he'll think he's Asian or Hispanic. Sid and Brad dominate the opening moments of the match. SOC use a double team Stun Gun type move on Brad to turn the tables, and then start working on his throat. They go for a spike piledriver, but Brad back body drops Smooth and catches X coming off the ropes with a punch, and makes the hot tag to Sid. Sid cleans house, sending both opponents to the outside, and then press slamming Brad onto them. Brad rolls X into the ring, but Smooth drops him throat first onto the steel barricade. Sid has X for a powerbomb, but Tre comes off the top with a missile dropkick, and X rolls through on Sid for the pin, with Smooth applying extra pressure. SOC celebrate up the ramp, and have a staredown with the AHS. Sid argues with the ref and then gives him a powerbomb. Styles tells us to tune in next week for the ECW title rematch between Luger and Eaton, as well as the mosh pit match and Simmons Vs Chavis.

ECW Presents: DECLARATION OF VIOLENCE - 4/7/93 Lex Luger is in the back cutting a promo. "Bobby Eaton, tonight your dream turns into a nightmare. I told you before, as good as you are, and you are good, it will take a great man to take this title off me, and you just don't fall into that category. See you out there." Bobby Eaton cuts a promo. He has his head bandaged up. "Tonight, July 4th, America's birthday. I've got an Independence Day gift for you, Luger. I'm going to facilitate your independence from that ECW Championship belt." Joey Styles welcomes us to the show and wishes us a happy 4th of July, and then throws it straight to the ring for our opening match. Match 1: Azrael Vs Scott Levy in a steel cage match. 20 minute time limit. Azrael makes his way out first, but as he stands in the aisle, The Highwaymen emerge from the billowing fog behind him and attack. They send him into the guard rail, and then hit him with the Stand and Deliver. Scott Levy then saunters out and hands each of the Highwaymen a wad of cash. Levy rolls Azrael into the ring and the cage door is locked behind them. JS- "Scott Levy is going to buy a victory tonight". Levy with a tight hook of the leg but only a two count. Levy lays the boots in, and chokes Azrael on the ropes. He tries to throw Azrael into the cage wall but Azrael reverses and is now on the offensive. Levy kicks his leg out and starts working on the leg, but again Azrael makes a comeback and press slams Levy into the cage. Levy motions down the aisle for help, and Nelson Frazier makes his way out, his arm still bandaged up. Azrael is scraping Levy's now bloody head along the cage and seemingly doesn't see Frazier rip the lock off the door. Frazier holds his shoulder in pain from the exertion, and that allows Azrael to dropkick the door into Frazier. Levy kicks out the leg again and hits the Levy Breaker, but Azrael kicks out again. Frazier lumbers into the cage. Levy holds Azrael against the cage, and Frazier runs in with a splash, but Azrael moves, pulling Levy into the way of Frazier. Azrael then climbs to the top of the cage and leaps off on both Levy and Frazier with a body block, which gets the first ever "Oh My God" from Styles. Frazier rolls out the ring in pain and Azrael hits the Dance of Death on Levy for the 1-2-3. 10 mins. JS- "Levy came here tonight with plan A and plan B, but Azrael had all the answers, and has definitively put this issue to rest." A video shows all the history between Brian X, Tre Smooth, Brad Armstrong and Sid Vicious. Match 2: Brad Armstrong and Sid Vicious Vs Straight Outta Compton. 15 minute time limit. Brian X comes out with a mic. "It's another Brian X joint, your real main event, anytime we're on the card you know it's money well spent. Get your photos in now because this ain't gonna take us long, we gonna beat you up then celebrate like Cheech and Chong. Sid, you may be big but you'll be screaming in pain, then we'll take care of your momma 'til she's screaming our name. You see, we don't think you're bad and we don't think you're vicious, you're just another pair of pussy lips trying hard to kiss us. And speaking of momma's, Brad, I hate for you to find out this way..." Tre takes the mic. "Mrs Armstrong looked after me real good when I came round to play". Brad, who had been trying to restrain Sid this whole time, loses it hear, and both Armstrong and Vicious cut loose. The babyfaces dominate until Smooth low-bridges Armstrong out the ring, and then SOC start double-teaming him. Armstrong finally makes a hot tag to Sid, and the big man cleans house. A brawl ensues and Brad clotheslines Smooth over the top rope and goes out with him, leaving X and Vicious. X slaps Sid in the face and tries to run, but he runs right into a punch from Brad and then eats a Sid powerbomb. Sid covers for the win in 8 minutes. Armstrong rolls Tre Smooth into the ring, and Sid gives him a powerbomb too for good measure. Marc Mero cuts a promo in the back. He's in a silk robe and is looking through a wardrobe. He turns to the camera. "Ricky Morton, I hope you didn't spend too much on your tuxedo for our match tonight - who am I kidding, of course you didn't. You see, tonight, I'm going to embarrass and humiliate you in front of all these filthy cretins. Everything you've done to me is going to come back to you times one hundred, and the best part is, I'm going to look so magnificent doing it." He goes back to looking through the wardrobe. "Ooh, that one is perfect". Match 3: Ron Simmons Vs The Sandman. 10 minute time limit. Joey tells us that this match was added at the last minute, at Simmons' request. Simmons gets the mic and says that he has a point to prove after failing to beat Bobby Eaton last week, and he's going to take all his aggression out on the Sandman. Larry Zbyszko joins Styles on commentary, and says he hasn't talked to the Sandman at all since their loss in the I Quit match, but that he's worried about Sandman's health. This is a short brawl, but Sandman doesn't look himself and Simmons starts targeting his head. Sandman tries to fight back into it, but ends up going down to the Emancipation Proclamation after 6 minutes. Simmons then gets a table from under the ring and starts setting it up in the ring. Zbyszko has seen enough and heads to the ring. Simmons ducks out and Zbyszko goes to help Sandman up. Simmons attacked Zbyszko from behind and starts beating him down. Sandman rolls out the ring. He looks back as Zbyszko takes a beating, but just walks away. Simmons spinebusters Zbyszko through the table. Mike Shaw and Madusa are in the back. Madusa is kicking away at a punching bag. MS- "Maddy, baby, this is going to be so sweet. I can't wait to go out there and beat these two clowns, and after you cover one of them for the 1-2-3, maybe I'll have a special question to ask you". A video recaps the feud. Shaw and Madusa make their way out, followed by Maximilian Payne and Barry Horowitz. Payne gets a mic. "Before we start this thing, I have something to say. Now, as much as we would like to get our hands on you, Madusa, for all that you've done to us, and as much as you deserve it, we decided that beating on a woman, that ain't really our thing. However, I do happen to know somebody who would be more than happy to give you the beating that you so richly deserve". He motions to the aisle, and a dark-haired woman in a sexy little blouse and mini skirt marches out. JS- "Is that...? That's Woman. Woman is here in ECW. The former manager of the likes of the Steiner brothers and Ron Simmons amongst others". Shaw and Madusa sell shock and confusion. Woman gives Payne and Horowitz a kiss on the cheek and then takes the mic. "Madusa, I heard you running your mouth about being the dominant female in professional wrestling. Well, sweetheart, you said it yourself- hell hath no fury, like Woman scorned". She tackles Madusa down and they roll around pulling on each other's hair. Match 4: Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw and Madusa Vs Maximilian Payne and Woman w/Barry Horowitz. 15 minute time limit. Madusa rolls out the ring in shock as the teams regroup. The men start and have a standard match, which Payne dominates until Madusa catches him with a kick to the back of the head. Shaw then beats down on Payne for a bit, and then tags in Madusa who gets some kicks in. They perform the Cuck Hold on Payne, but this time with Madusa holding Payne down on the ropes, and Shaw on the apron as they make out. Madusa goes to the second rope, but Payne avoids her dropkick attempt. Madusa quickly tags Shaw who regains control, but misses a big splash in the corner. Shaw tags Madusa and Payne tags Woman and Woman spears Madusa down and they resume their cat fight. Woman comes out on top, but is distracted by Shaw trying to grab her, which allows Madusa to knee her in the back and then toss her into the corner. She gives her a couple of roundhouse kicks and then gloats. She runs in but Woman moves. Shaw comes in but Payne cuts him off with a big shoulder tackle, and as the ref tries to clear the ring, Horowitz tosses Woman one of her heels, and she waffles Madusa with it, covering her for the win after 10 mins. Joey Styles has made his way to the back to catch a word with the Sandman. He asks why Sandman didn't help Larry Zbyszko. "Zbyszko quit on me, so tonight, I quit on him. It's that simple." Match 5: Ricky Morton Vs 'Magnificent' Marc Mero. Tuxedo match with a 15 minute time limit. Mero comes out in a ridiculously extravagant tuxedo. Morton comes out in a 'redneck tuxedo' (jeans, denim shirt, denim waistcoat, denim jacket), which Mero sells to the hilt. Mero grabs a mic and asks what the hell is going on, this is supposed to be a tuxedo match. Morton takes the mic and says this is his tuxedo, and let's get it on. Mero attacks him and the bell rings. He rips Morton's jacket off straight away and starts choking him with it. Morton ducks a clothesline and teases a superkick, but Mero rolls out the ring. JS- "Let me tell you from experience, if Morton hits that superkick, which he calls the Ricky Horror Kickture Show, then this one could well be over. The match continues with Morton using high paced offence to take control and strip Mero of his jacket, before Mero takes control and starts to punish Ricky. He sends him into the ringpost on the floor, and tears off his waistcoat and rips open his shirt. Morton comes back but misses a cross body off the top, and Mero peels off his shirt too, leaving just his jeans to come off. He is punishing him in the corner, but Morton counters a Widowmaker attempt with a back body drop, and then hits the RHKS, which sends Mero to the floor. Morton goes out after him and tears off his shirt. Mero scurries back into the ring but Morton is in control down and starts taking off Mero's slacks. Mero leverages Morton face-first into the turnbuckle, but Morton blocks the impact and goes for the Rockin' 'Rana. However, Mero counters with a powerbomb and strips down Morton's made in America blue jeans to gain the win after 12 mins. Styles tells us it's now time for what could be the most violent match of the night, and we get a recap video of the Sabu/Nord feud. Nord comes out first and looks somewhat nervous, taking an extra deep gulp from his wooden goblet, and trying to squeeze out every last drop of the drink that seems to give him his power. Match 6: Sabu Vs Nord. Arabian Death Match. No time limit. This starts as a full-blooded brawl, with both men fighting around the ring area. Sabu back body drops Nord into the crowd, and then performs a triple jump dive into the third row, taking Nord down. They come back in the ring and Sabu hits an Arabian Facebuster on Nord. He goes for a triple-jump moonsault, but Nord moves and slugs Sabu with the chair. He gets a table and sets it up in the corner, and long darts Sabu through it. Sabu is back to his feet though and the fight continues. Nord gets another table but Sabu hits him with a chair, laying him out on the table. He hits a flying legdrop through the table, but that doesn't keep Nord down. Sabu goes under the ring again, but this time he doesn't pull out a table. He pulls out a board covered in barbed wire. He props it up against the guard rail and climbs onto the apron, but Nord is waiting and catches him with the Road To Valhalla, which sends Sabu crashing into the barbed wire. "Oh My God!". Sabu is twitching in pain, but manages to make it back to his feet on a 9 count, much to Nord's dismay. Sabu is bloody and Nord starts pounding away on his head. He press slams him face first onto the guard rail and sends him into the steps, but again Sabu is up. He rolls him back into the ring and makes his way in, but he is met by Sabu who throws a fireball into his face. Nord sells this huge, but is still on his feet, so Sabu throws a chair at his head, which causes him to go down. Sabu then rips a line of barbed wire from the board and locks a camel clutch on Nord, using the barbed way to tear at Nord's throat and face. He wrenches back on the hold until Nord loses consciousness, and then releases. Nord is out and can't answer the referee's 10 count, making Sabu the winner after 16 minutes. We see Luger and Simmons in the back preparing to make their way out for the main event, and then a video recaps how Eaton earnt his title shot. Match 7: Lex Luger (c) w/Ron Simmons Vs 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton for the ECW Championship. 1 hour time limit. The story of the match is Luger using his power to dominate Eaton, but Eaton not backing down. Eaton gets a good foothold in the match when he low-bridges Luger sending him to the floor, and then comes off the apron with a flying clothesline. Back in the ring he hits a DDT for a nearfall. Simmons gets involved now, clipping Eaton's ankle as he runs the ropes, and Luger clotheslines Eaton to the floor. While Luger distracts the ref, Simmons takes a cheapshot at Eaton. Back in the ring Eaton counters a Torture Rack attempt into a sunset flip for a close 2 count, then a small package for another 2. He slingshots Luger into the corner and goes up top for the Alabama Jam. Simmons climbs onto the apron to cause a distraction, and by the time Eaton goes for the move, Luger can move out of the way. Now he applies the Torture Rack, but Eaton rakes the eyes to escape. Both men are selling, but Luger explodes with his running forearm. However, Eaton moves and Luger runs into the ref, knocking him to the floor. Simmons pulls Eaton out the ring, but Eaton starts unloading on him with punches. Luger goes out and attacks him from behind and the two men double team him, sending him into the guard rail. They continue stomping away on Eaton on the floor, but then the lights go out. When they come back on, Sabu is on the top rope, and he leaps out on top of Luger and Simmons. Sabu starts beating Simmons through the crowd, while Luger, Eaton and the referee all roll back into the ring. Luger signals for the Torture Rack once again, but Eaton counters into a DDT, and then slowly climbs to the top rope. He comes off with the flying legdrop and hooks the leg tightly. The referee crawls over and counts...1.....2..........3. Luger can't kick-out, and Eaton has pulled off the upset to become the new ECW champion. He cradles the belt in the ring, tears streaming down his face, as the show comes to a close.

Thanks so much for the kind words. ECW TV Episode 27 - 2/7/93 We start with a video showing the return of Sabu last week. Joey Styles is in the ring. We welcomes us to the show and tells us that Sabu Vs Nord has been added to the card for Declaration of Violence, and it will be an Arabian Death Match. No pinfalls, no submissions, no DQ, no countout. The only way to win is to beat your opponent so bad that he can't answer a 10 count. Match 1: Scott Levy Vs Brad Armstrong. 10 min time limit. Levy cuts a promo before the match saying that Azrael can make all the threats he wants, and use all the cryptic imagery he wants, but at the end of the day he's just a man, and there isn't a man on earth who can't be taken down by brains and money. These two work a fast-paced offensive-minded match, with Levy picking up the win with his feet on the ropes after 6 mins. Mike Shaw and Madusa cut a promo in the back. MS-" That was quite the surprise you had for us last week, putting myself and my lady love in a tag team match against Maximilian Payne and Barry Horowitz. Well, I don't blame you. If I wanted to sell tickets, if I wanted to sell VHS tapes, I'd book wrestling's hottest couple in a match too. But if you think I'm worried, you're wrong. Madusa knows how to handle herself just fine. Ain't that right, baby doll". "That's right, Sugarlips. You see, I am wrestling's most dominant female performer. Miss Elizabeth? Sherri Martel? We all know that you just don't have what it takes anymore. No, there's nobody who can match my beauty, and in the ring, just remember that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Match 2: Maximilian Payne and Barry Horowitz Vs Brian X and Tracy Smothers. 15 min time limit. Brian X interrupts the ring announcer as he announces them. "Hey, Slim Jim, why don't you leave this to the professional? The following contest is a Brian X joint. Standing in the ring, hailing from the West Side, the most dominant tag team in ECW. Brian X. Your boy, Tre Smooth. Straight Outta Compton". X and Smooth gain the advantage when they start to double team Horowitz, but Payne gets the hot tag and starts to clean house. Payne gets X in the Payne Killer, but Smooth hits him with a chair, giving Payne and BH the win by DQ after 9 mins. They have Payne set up for a spike piledriver, but Brad Armstrong and Sid Vicious come out to make the save. Straight Outta Compton flee the scene. A video recaps all of Bobby Eaton's TV title defenses to date, and then we cut to Lex Luger in the back. He is holding a contract for a ECW title match. "Here it is, Bobby. What you've been fighting your whole career for. Just one win away. Unfortunately, the man you need to beat is Ron Simmons. Good luck". The camera pans to the side and we see Simmons lifting some heavy weights, his muscles bulging. Match 3: Azrael Vs Steve Henry w/Rex Mason. 10 min time limit. Scott Levy comes out as the match is about to start and the distraction allows Henry to get the jump on Azrael. However, Azrael no sells it and polishes Henry off with the Dance of Death in under a minute. Levy looks like he's going to attack, but Azrael sees him coming and Levy thinks better of it. Levy looks concerned as Styles tells us that on Sunday Levy will be trapped inside a steel cage with Azrael. Styles is running down the card for Declaration of Violence. Marc Mero joins him. "Hey Joey. It's been a while. I figured you could use my expertise out here talking about Declaration of Violence, where I will show my true magnificence, by beating that Jurassic-era has-been, Ricky Morton, in a tuxedo match. Now let me tell you something about Ricky Morton..." Morton comes out of nowhere to attack Mero. He throws him over the announce table and then dives across it to continue the beatdown. Officials come in to separate the two but Morton breaks free and aims a superkick at Mero. However, Mero dodges it, and Styles takes the kick clean on the chin. Mero scarpers as Morton and the officials tend to Styles, who is out cold. A video recaps the I Quit match from last week. Match 4: 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton Vs Ron Simmons. TV title match with a 15 minute time limit. Lex Luger is at the commentary table, as Styles has been taken to the back. Eaton surprises Simmons by wrestling aggressively and taking the fight to him, showing off some high-end offence. Simmons finally gets the advantage and starts to bully Eaton as Luger cheers him on on commentary. "Don't play with him now, Ron. Put this one to bed". Simmons hits a big powerslam, which Luger notes is the move he used to beat Vader for the WCW championship, but Eaton kicks out at 2. Eaton has a brief comeback, but Simmons cuts him off with a hard shoulder tackle, which sends Eaton inside out. Simmons then signals to Luger that it's game over, and he goes for the Emancipation Proclamation. Eaton manages to counter the spinebuster attempt into a big DDT though, and starts to drag himself up to the top rope as Simmons lays prone on the mat. Luger has seen enough now and he hurries down to the ring and pushes Eaton off the top rope. Eaton wins by DQ after 12 mins. Luger starts to put the boots to Eaton, and he helps Simmons up who joins the attack. Simmons hits the Emancipation Proclamation, and then Luger grabs a mic. "Congratulations, Bobby. You've got your dream match. But your dream is going to turn into a nightmare on Sunday. You see, Bobby, you're a good wrestler. Maybe even very good. And you've had a hell of a career. But you're not great. And you need to be great to beat somebody like me. Now me, I am great. 3 years into my career I was challenging Ric Flair for the NWA championship. Some call Flair the greatest of all time, but he just couldn't hang with me. I've held every championship I've ever gone for. My very first night in ECW, I became this company's champion." Eaton gets to his feet so Luger socks him with the mic. Eaton blades. "Greatness has followed me my whole career, and it's going to take more than any guts and heart you can muster to take this belt from me. So here's your contract. Let's make it official". He smears the contract in Eaton's bloody head. Officials come out, and Luger and Simmons get a few more shots in before allowing themselves to be escorted out of the ring.

ECW TV Episode 26 - 25/6/93 Joey Styles is at his commentary positon. "Welcome to what promises to be one of the biggest episodes of ECW TV to date, and what better way to start than with one of the biggest matches this company has ever promoted". Match 1: Larry Zbyszko and The Sandman Vs Lex Luger and Ron Simmons. I Quit match with no time limit. Luger and Simmons are out first, talking trash into the camera, saying it's time for Zbyszko to show his true colours. A brief staredown in the ring, before the fists start flying. Luger and Sandman quickly spill to the floor, and quick as a flash Zbyszko catches Simmons with a drop toehold and whips him into a Texas Cloverleaf. Luger sees the danger and breaks it up before it can be really cinched in, as Styles puts over the danger of Zbyszko's submissions. The babyfaces dominate with crowd pleasing spots, like double ten punches in the corner. Simmons sends Sandman to the floor and they double team Zbyszko for a bit, before Sandman reemerges with a Singapore Cane. He sends the heels scuttling, and now the four men brawl around the arena for several minutes, and into the backstage area. They end up back in the ring, and Luger whips Sandman into the Torture Rack, but Zbyszko comes up behind him and locks in the Z-Lock Cobra Clutch, only for Simmons to come behind him and thwack him with a chair. Sandman and Simmons end up on the floor, and Sandman sets a table up and lays Simmons on it. He comes off the apron with a senton that sends Simmons through the table. Luger is having his way with Zbyszko, but Sandman comes in. Now Luger and Sandman go at it, with Sandman in control. He backs Luger into the corner, but Simmons crawls back onto the apron and he has a pair of handcuffs. Sandman sees the danger too late and is cuffed to the ropes, as Luger gets a sick smile on his face. Simmons and Luger turn towards Zbyszko as he staunchly gets back to his feet. Zbyszko realises what has happened and just goes at the heels with punches, but they inevitably overpower him. They are yelling at him to quit as they punch and kick him in the head, but Zbyszko is having none of it. Sandman has managed to reach a Singapore cane that was laying in the ring, and with his one free arm launches a flurry on the heels, until Simmons goes to the outside and grabs his legs, leaving him open for a big forearm by Luger. Luger and Simmons look at each other, and signal they are going to end it. Simmons wraps his arms around Zbyszko, forcing him to look at Sandman. Luger hits Sandman in the head with the cane. LL-"Say I Quit or he gets another". Zbyszko isn't biting. Luger gives him another. Sandman-"Don't you dare say it". Another shot. Another. Another. Sandman- "That all you got". Zbyszko briefly struggles free but is quickly subdued again. Luger gets a steel chair and again tells Zbyszko to quit. Sandman spits on Luger so Luger hits him with the chair. LZ- "I'll never quit you sons of bitches". Sandman is busted open but still defiant. Another chair shot and he's slumped down, but has enough to give Luger the finger. JS- "For God's sake, Sandman can't defend himself. End the match". Another wicked chair shot to the head, and this time Sandman takes it unprotected. Luger and Simmons are starting to doubt themselves, but Luger raises the chair with one more hellish shot in mind, before Zbyszko yells "God dammit, I quit. I quit". Luger drops the chair in exhaustion, and Simmons releases Zbyszko who goes straight over to Sandman who is barely conscious.Winner after 18 mins, Lex Luger and Ron Simmons. After a commercial break, Luger and Simmons are in the back. RS-"We did what we said we would do. It's like we said, Sandman is too stupid to quit, but we knew that if we couldn't break Zbyszko's body, we could break his will". LL-"That's right, Ron. And now I'm gonna stick around and watch Nord take care of Bobby Eaton for me". Joey Styles puts over the match, and then says it's time to hear, for the first time ever, from Azrael. In a dark room we see Azrael with his back to the camera, so we just see the angel wings on the back of his robe. He slowly turns around. "The accumulation of great wealth does not an evil man make. But Scott Levy, it is your greed and covetousness that have since I came here marked you out as someone that needed to be eradicated. What you fail to understand is that you can't buy your way out of the inevitable with gold or silver. There is no deal you can make to avoid your undoing. Some call me an angel. Others, a demon. But my arrival is marked by no heavenly chorus, nor the fiery flicker of flame. Only you shall hear the deafening silence of death, broken by the words, take my hand, and join me in the dance of death". Match 2: Maximilian Payne Vs Scott Levy. 10 min time limit. Payne is dominating Levy, as Levy looks shaken up by Azrael's words, as Styles talks about the cage match upcoming between the two. With Payne seemingly heading to victory, Madusa makes her way out in a trench coat and heels. She climbs onto the apron and opens the trench coat to reveal she has on just her bra and panties. Payne gawks at her, and turns around into a Levy Breaker DDT as Levy picks up an unlikely win in 5 mins. Madusa walks away victoriously and Mike Shaw meets her in the entranceway. They celebrate together and share a smooch, and then Shaw starts to get down on one knee. Styles approaches them with a mic. "Sorry to break up this celebration, but I've just received some important news from the ECW booking committee. They have made a match for Declaration of Violence. Since you two can't seem to stop getting in the business of Maximilian Payne and Barry Horowitz, it will be those two gentlemen teaming up again Mike Shaw, and his partner... Madusa". Shaw and Madusa flip their lids, as Payne shakes off the cobwebs in the ring with a smile on his face. Styles says that also added to the DOV card is Brian X and Tracy Smothers against Brad Armstrong and Sid Vicious. Armstrong and Vicious cut a quick promo in the back about how they're looking forward to taking out the trash. The Sandman and Larry Zbyszko are interviewed in the back by Joey. Zbyszko is stonefaced and quiet as Joey asks how they feel. Sandman- "What, now you have nothing to say? I told you to never say those two words, no matter what happened. I would have sooner died out there than have lost that match. You quitting means that I quit too, and you had no right, no right, to make that decision for the both of us." Sandman walks out and Zbyszko pushes the camera away. Match 3: 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton Vs Nord. 15 minute time limit for the TV title. Eaton is very game in the early going, using speed and experience to befuddle Nord. Once Nord gets a hold of him he starts to dominate the match. Styles says this is defense number 9 for Eaton, and mentions the strange things that have been happening during Nord's matches lately. Nord is dominating with power, but Eaton keeps kicking out, showing his toughness. The fight spills to the floor where Eaton fights back, sending Nord into the steps. He's firing up, but he ends up walking right into a Road to Valhalla. Nord rolls Eaton back into the ring, but before he can follow there's a commotion in the crowd. "He is coming! He is coming!" It's the same Arab man as last week. Nord flips out, but remembers the match and gets back into the ring. Eaton is still lifeless, but as Nord goes to grab him, Eaton surprises him with a small package and gets the win in 8 mins. Nord goes straight out into the crowd to try to track down the Arab. He's throwing chairs around as security try to restrain him. He grabs the Arab. "Speak! Who is coming?" "Coming, no. He is here". Nord looks up and sees Sabu standing on the balcony. Sabu points to the sky and then dives onto Nord. Security quickly engulf the two and Sabu seemingly vanishes while Nord is left screaming and pulling at his hair. The show ends with Lex Luger cutting a promo in the back. He is holding a piece of paper. "Bobby Eaton, this right here is a contract for a match against me at Declaration of Violence, for the ECW Championship. You win your tenth TV title defense next week, and I will sign this contract in the middle of the ring. And your opponent..." The camera pans out to show Ron Simmons standing there beating his fist into his palm.

ECW TV - 18/6/93 A video opens the show, depicting men in revolutionary era garb conversing over a table, and writing on a piece of paper. VO- "Philadelphia, July 4th 1776, our forefathers signed a declaration of independence." The paper is passed to one man, as the others look at him in anticipation. We hear the hiss of a beer can opening and being chugged, as the watching men gasp in horror. We zoom in on the man as he pulls off his revolutionary wig. It's the Sandman with a cigarette hanging out his mouth. He pulls out a Singapore Cane and starts swinging. VO- "Philadelphia, July 4th 1993, ECW makes a declaration of violence". Madusa is standing in the ring. "Ladies and gentlemen, wrestling's sexiest man, if he was a candy bar he'd be a Snickers, because he's guaranteed to satisfy, my soulmate, my lover, the Modern Day Casanova, Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw. Match 1: Mike Shaw w/Madusa Vs Barry Horowitz. 10 minute time limit. A pop-up video airs as Horowitz comes out, in which he tells Maximilian Payne to stay in the back because he wants to prove he can beat Shaw on his own. Shaw uses his girth to dominate most of the match, running through his signature stuff, including the Cuck-Hold. Shaw barks into the camera, "You watching this, Payne?". He goes for an avalanche in the corner but BH moves and starts to rally, finally knocking Shaw down with a dropkick from the second rope. BH is gearing up for a finish, but Madusa climbs into the ring. This distracts BH and the ref, and allows Shaw to nail Horowitz with a low blow, and then hit the Guaranteed Finish for the win in 7 mins. Madusa jumps into Shaw's arms and they kiss. Shaw tosses Horowitz to the outside, and wipes his hands. Joey Styles tells us that the main event tonight will be The Pennsylvania Wrecking Crew against the Highwaymen, and hypes up the I Quit match for next week. He also talks about the July 4th show, Declaration of Violence, and the Azrael/Scott Levy cage match. He says that next week, Azrael will talk for the first time. Marc Mero cuts a promo in the back. We see just his head. He has a towel over his head. "Ricky Morton. You have been a thorn in my side for weeks, and that reached an apex two weeks ago when you shaved my beautiful head. You didn't just cut my hair that night. You took my dignity. You took my pride. Look at what you did to me. (he pulls off the towel, to reveal his shaved head). In the moments after that match, I was lower than I've ever been in my life. I questioned my whole existence. But then I realised, no matter what you did, how hard you tried, the one thing you could never take away from me... is my magnificence. My style. (the camera pulls back to show Mero is wearing a flamboyant 3-piece suit). You see, when it comes to style, you Ricky Morton, will always be in my shadow. You kept your mullet, and that's just fine, because it suits you. It suits you because just like that mullet, you're a relic of the 80s. Now I'm challenging you to a match that's all about style. You once attacked me from behind and stripped me of my fine threads. Well, I'm going to give you the chance to do that in a fair fight. On July 4th, I'm challenging you to a tuxedo match. Squeeze your pudgy 80s hair metal ass into your high school prom tuxedo, and I'll show the world that when it comes to style, and wrestling, you're way out of your league". Match 2: Tracy Smothers w/Brian X Vs Sid Vicious. 10 minute time limit. Sid stands in the ring as his opponents come out. BX- "It's TS and B-Sexy bringing the street cred, watch as my boy takes care of this meathead. You may be big, but size doesn't matter, unless I'm serving Mrs Vicious my all sausage platter. And Brad, your threats don't mean a thing, not to a real life king of the ring. This ain't no clash of the champions, because you're not in our class, now enough talking, time to kick ass". Smothers attacks Sid as the bell rings, but Sid is largely unfazed, and starts to throw Smothers around. he hits a chokeslam and that brings X into the ring, and a DQ after 3 mins. Smothers and X pound on Sid, which brings out Brad Armstrong. The heels scurry away. CCTV-style footage shows Shaw and Madusa in the back. Madusa asks Shaw if he'll ask her the question he said he had for her during Lover's Lane. Shaw says Payne spoiled the moment, so he'll have to create a new moment to ask her. A video of Nord destroying people. Amongst the footage is a quick shot of Sabu's eyes. Match 3: Nord Vs Ricky Morton. 10 minute time limit. Styles says that Morton has accepted Mero's challenge. Morton is a game opponent but Nord controls most of the match and finishes Morton off with the Road to Valhalla in 4 minutes. After the match a man in an Arab head dress jumps the rail and tries to get into the ring. Security cut him off, and haul him away. The man is screaming something in Farsi over and over, and you catch a little bit of English - "he is coming" - in there. Nord gives Morton another Road to Valhalla. After a break we see Morton make it to his feet and start to leave. Marc Mero comes out of nowhere and attacks him, laying a beating on him in the aisle. Officials restrain him. Lex Luger cuts a promo in the back. "Bobby Eaton, you have the gall to come out after my victory over the Native American last week, and try to intimidate me? To ruin my moment. Let me clue you in here, Eaton; I'm the ECW champion, and to get a shot at me, you need to do something to earn it. Now, I get it, I get it. You're the TV champion, and if you defend that belt successfully 10 times, you become the number one contender to the ECW title. You're at 8, right? I haven't been paying attention. 2 more matches. You must think you're just about there, right? Well, I just had a little chat with the head of the ECW championship committee and they had some interesting news for me. You ain't gonna be making 10 title defenses. You ain't even gonna make 9. Because the new number one contender for the television champion is the Viking King, Nord!" He laughs. Styles says that news has been confirmed to him, and that the match will take place next week, meaning a bumper double header with the I Quit match. Match 4: The Pennsylvania Wrecking Crew Vs The Highwaymen. 15 minutes remain. Styles says the PWC requested this match after losing to the Highwaymen several weeks back. The match goes about 10 minutes and follows basic tag team formula. Luger and Ron Simmons come out 5 minutes in but just stand in the entrance. This allows the Highwaymen the chance to take over. Finally the PWC make a comeback and Larry Zbyszko locks on his version of the Cobra Clutch, which he calls the Z-Lock, on Steve Henry, who submits. Styles says Zbyszko could use that to win the I Quit match. The Sandman then grabs his cane and starts beating Rex Mason with it. Styles says or maybe Sandman could just pound Luger or Simmons until they can't take anymore. Simmons has a mic- "very impressive, but the fact remains that next week you're stepping into the ring with a whole other level of competition, and just like all the great champions, we've called our shot." LL- "That's right. Zbyszko, you have just 7 days left until you face the indignity of saying those 2 words, those 5 little letters. You will quit Zbyszko. That's our promise in front of all these people. So enjoy if you can this last week of being able to look at yourself in the mirror, of being able to look your partner in the eyes, because it all ends next week." Zbyszko flashes a look of concern and looks at Sandman. Sandman also has a look of slight concern. Luger and Simmons exit smugly as the show ends.

ECW TV Episode 24 - 11/6/93 Joey Styles is in the ring to welcome us to the show, and hype up the 3 championship matches for the evening, but is interrupted by Scott Levy and Nelson Frazier. Frazier has his arm in a sling. SL- "How can you stand here with that stupid smirk on your face talking about wrestling, when this miscarriage of justice is allowed to take place? Nelson Frazier, for those who don't know, suffered a broken elbow at the hands of that savage, Azrael on a house show this past week. This is a tragedy. Do you know how much money this is costing me? Not that I can't afford it, but still. I should sue ECW for providing an unsafe work environment. Nelson Frazier isn't a licensed wrestler, he's a piece of property that I own, and Azrael had no business putting his hands on him." JS- "Maybe if you didn't insist on bringing your toys to school, they wouldn't get broke". "You shut your smart mouth, Joey. Because of Azrael, Frazier can no longer perform the basic duties I expect of him, and I want compensation". "Well, Scotty, it's convenient that you are out here, actually, because I was just about to talk about you. You see, you are going to get some compensation, but it isn't going to come in the form of money. It's going to come in the form of steel. A steel cage to be exact. You see, in 3 weeks time, ECW are going to be holding our latest extravaganza. It's going to take place on our nation's birthday, July 4th, right here in the ECW arena, and the first match announced is Azrael Vs Scott Levy inside a steel cage. No Nelson Frazier, no escape, no excuses." Levy is apoplectic as we cut to commercial. Match 1: The Arkansas Hit Squad (c) Vs The Highwaymen for the tag team titles. 20 min time limit. The Highwaymen come out wearing the belts, but the AHS attack them before they can even take them off. They strip the belts off them and hold them aloft, but the Highwaymen attack them from behind. The AHS shrug off the attack and catch the Highwaymen with a pair of big boots. They whip them into the corner one after the other and squash them with a pair of clotheslines. They throw Steve Henry over the top rope, and hit Rex Mason with the Hangman's Noose. Knight covers for the win after 45 seconds. They get Henry back in the ring and deliver a Noose to him for good measure, and then celebrate with their tag team belts. Joey says the belts are back with their rightful owners. We see quick highlights of the hair match from last week, and Styles says Marc Mero will be in the arena next week to show off his new haircut. 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton is out next for the open challenge TV title match. He awaits his opponent in the ring. Joey explains this is title defense #8 for Eaton. Suddenly- "The following contest is a Brian X joint, B-Sexy and my boy, TS, never disappoint. We're too real for wrestling, ain't nobody could book this, the men wanna be me and the women wanna suck this. It's time to end this joke of a title reign, but y'all don't have to thank me, I'm Hannibal Lecter- I'll eat your face with a nice chianti. Hey, Bobby, are you even a dude, or is this the battle of the sexes? This mofo isn't Wayne's World, it be Brian X's". Match 2: 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton Vs Brian X w/Tracy Smothers. 15 minute time limit for the TV title. Style's apologises for BX's comments once again. Booked as a fast paced match, with Eaton initially in control until Smothers distracts. X is allowed to show some of his high-end offence, before Eaton makes a comeback. Eaton catches X with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and then proceeds to the top rope for the Alabama Jam. Smothers crotches him on the ropes, drawing the instant DQ after 12 mins. Smothers and X proceed to beat down Eaton until Brad Armstrong rushes the ring and fights them both off. The babyfaces stand tall. Brad grabs a mic. "You boys are gonna get what's coming to you, I guarantee you that. You see, next week, Tracy, you're going to take on the man you had no problem badmouthing a couple of weeks ago- your former tag team partner, Sid Vicious. And Brian, brother dearest, if you even think about interfering, I'm going to be right there to even the odds". A quick video recaps what went down on Lover's Lane last week, and Styles announces Mike Shaw Vs Barry Horowitz for next week. Styles also says that Nord will be back in action next week, and as he does the lights in the arena start to flicker. Styles apologises for the technical difficulties. The Pennsylvania Wrecking Crew cut a promo in the back. Sandman- "The date has been set. 2 weeks from tonight. Luger and Simmons. Sandman and Zbyszko. I quit. And as usual, Luger is out here talking a load of crap, making promises that you can't keep and calling my partner a quitter. Let me ask you something, Larry; are you a quitter?" "I am not". "And are you going to say those 2 words, I quit, in two weeks time". "Let me tell you something, when I was coming up in this business, I was taken under the wing of the great Bruno Sammartino, but when Bruno had taught me all he had to teach me, I didn't quit. I usurped Bruno. I took his spot. When the AWA was dying, I didn't quit. I took everything I could from that company and I moved on. And as for WCW and the Dangerous Alliance, first of all, Simmons, you couldn't hang with the Dangerous Alliance. You weren't even in our league. And Luger, when the Dangerous Alliance was running roughshod over WCW, where were you? Oh, that's right, you were flexing your muscles for Vince McMahon. You see, what you guys call quitting, I call surviving. And that's what we are, and pair of survivors. He might be from the bad streets of Philly, while I'm more Pittsburgh country club scene, but neither one of us has got an ounce of quit in us, and you'll learn that for yourselves 2 weeks from now. Does that answer your question, Sandy?" Sandman pops open a beer and downs it. "Cheers to that". Match 3: Lex Luger w/Ron Simmons (c) Vs Christopher Chavis. ECW title match, 20 mins remaining of air time. Simmons comes out with a sign saying "ZQuitszko" on it, and Luger trash talks into the camera about making Zbyszko say 'I quit'. The story of the match is that Luger is a superior wrestler, stronger and more experienced, but Chavis is all heart and can't be put away. Chavis digs in for a comeback, and knocks Simmons off the apron, before a barrage of tomahawk chops, culminating in one of the top rope, earn him a close nearfall. Simmons tries a trip but Chavis rolls out the ring and tees off on him with punches. Back in the ring he hits a fallaway slam on Luger but Luger gets his foot on the rope as Simmons breathes a sigh of relief. Chavis goes up top again, but this time he is met by a bionic forearm to the face. Luger picks Chavis up in the torture rack, but the ref indicates that Chavis is out cold, awarding the match to Luger via knockout in 15 mins. As Luger and Simmons celebrate, Bobby Eaton makes his way to the entranceway. He holds up 8 fingers, then 2 fingers, then does the belt motion. Luger looks concerned, as Styles tells us to tune in next week for more exciting action.

He's still probably the most popular guy in the company, but I would agree that it doesn't feel 'special' anymore. I was at Smackdown last night, and was surprised there were no yes chants before the show went on the air. Lots of Rusev Day chants though. If I were to extrapolate from the reactions in Detroit last night, where Rusev was at worst the second most over guy in the building, the crowd were getting genuinely angry by his lack of involvement in the tag match, and the fact that Rusev Day shirts were probably the most common I saw, I would say that Rusev should really be consistently presented as a main event level star. Which you all probably know anyway.

ECW TV Episode 23 - 4/6/93 Mood lighting. In the ring is a table, elegantly set, with a vase of roses, wine glasses etc. Mike Shaw's music hits, and Shaw strolls out smugly, as Joey Styles welcomes us to the show. Shaw gets on the mic, and says that tonight is a celebration. He says it's ironic that it was Barry Horowitz, Maximilian Payne's only friend in the world, who ended up costing Payne their match last week. He says that now he puts Payne behind him, and debuts his new talk show, Lover's Lane. He introduces his first guest, the sexiest woman in the world, Madusa. Madusa comes out dressed to impress, and they take a seat at the table and enjoy a glass of wine. A bit of banter about Payne and Horowitz ensues. "Now, as you all know, I am a man with a voracious sexual appetite. In fact, there has never been a single woman on this earth who could satisfy me fully. Let me put it this way, at the buffet of life, I was tossing the salad, slurping the soup, and having all I could eat. But then I met you, my Maddy. Baby girl, you are everything I ever wanted in a woman, and you're the only woman I need. And with that said, I have a very important question I want to ask you right now..." Maximilian Payne's music hits, and he and BH walk out. MP- "You may have got the 1-2-3 on me last week, but you're damn mistaken if you think that was the end of anything. We're going to face each other again real soon, and next time it's going to be on my terms, the way I like to fight. And as for this little love-off right here? Barry?" BH- "Lover's Lane is about to close for business". They hit the ring as Shaw and Madusa scarper, and trash the Lover's Lane set. Shaw is seething on the outside. Styles hypes the show, with the hair match main event, and talks about next week which will be title night, with Luger Vs Chavis and the Highwaymen Vs the Arkansas Hit Squad. He announces that Bobby Eaton didn't want to be left out, and has signed an open contract to defend his TV title. Match 1: Azrael Vs Scott Levy. 15 minute time limit, Nelson Frazier is handcuffed to the ring post. Azrael dominates the match, throwing Levy around in an impressive display of power. Levy sneaks back into the match with a rake of the eyes, but Azrael soon makes a comeback and is heading for the win. Before he can put the match to bed, Frazier breaks the handcuffs, which Styles puts over as a superhuman feat. Frazier hits the ring and attacks Azrael, hitting him with a big slam and a splash. Match time is 6 mins, Azrael wins by DQ. Azrael makes it back to his feet as Frazier and Levy leave, in an act of defiance. A video package shows the history between Marc Mero and Ricky Morton. The Highwaymen cut a promo in the back. They say they have what the AHS want, and then open their jackets to show they are wearing the tag team belts. They say that they're gentlemen thieves, but there'll be nothing gentlemanly about what they do to the Hit Squad next week, and that the belts are staying with them. Match 2: Tracy Smothers w/Brian X Vs Brad Armstrong. 15 mins. Brian X has the mic- "Brad, you say we broke your heart, that's because we're fighters, not lovers. Now you're about to get your ass beat by the original G, Tracy Smothers. If you think you can hang, then go ahead and try us- your offence is weaker than the Philadelphia Flyers. But don't worry. we'll make it quick, they don't pay us by the hour. When we're done pounding your ass, we're gonna take your woman's flower". Brad's music hits and he bursts out and hits the ring a house on fire, as Styles apologises for X's comments. Brad is all over Tracy and is set to make short work of him as he hits a bulldog. X rushes the ring though and attacks Armstrong, bringing about the DQ after 3 mins. X and Smothers beat down Armstrong, finishing with a spike piledriver. Lex Luger and Ron Simmons come out. LL- "Sandman and Zbyszko, we heard your comments last week as you accepted our challenge for an I Quit match. Very confident. The two of you said that you weren't quitters. Now, Sandman, I've been in the ring with you many times, and I'll say this about you, I never could get you to quit. I could beat your ass all night long, and I did, but you would not quit. I think you're just too plain stupid to quit, to be honest. But Zbyszko, when you say you're not a quitter, that isn't quite truthful, is it?" RS- "It's a goddamned lie. Zbyszko, everybody knows that you are a grade A quitter. You quit the WWWF because you couldn't handle living in the shadow of Bruno Sammartino, you quit the AWA when they needed you the most, and you quit WCW because the Dangerous Alliance wanted no more part of you. Once a quitter, always a quitter, Zbyszko." LL- "Let me make this clear right now. We don't go into this I Quit match looking to make the Sandman quit. We go in looking to make you quit, Zbyszko. That's a guarantee right now. Zbyszko, you will utter those two words, and disgrace yourself once again, and Simmons and I, Southern Comfort, will show our dominance over you Pennsylvania losers once and for all". Match 3: Ricky Morton Vs 'Magnificent' Marc Mero. Hair Vs Hair, 25 mins remaining of TV time. These two go at it hard in a fast-paced match with lots of near falls. Mero dominates for long periods but can't put Morton away. He goes for the Widowmaker but Morton blocks and hits the Rockin' Rana, but only gets a two count. He then locks on a sleeper hold. Mero tries to kick off the ropes, but can't rotate backwards, and is now grounded in the sleeper. His hand drops once, twice, three times, and Morton is declared the winner after 17 mins. Morton grabs the clippers, and starts to shave Mero's head, with help from the barber. Morton celebrates in the crowd as Mero comes to and throws a fit upon seeing his new hair cut. The show ends with Styles hyping next week's show.

ECW TV Episode 22 - 28/5/93. The show opens with the ring surrounded by lumberjacks ready for the opening match. Around the ring are the Highwaymen, Ricky Morton, Tracy Smothers, Brian X, Christopher Chavis, Mike Shaw and Sid Vicious. Match 1: 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton Vs Scott Levy. 15 minute time limit for the TV title. Nelson Frazier is out with Levy and takes his place with the lumberjacks. Azrael's music hits and he comes out and stands about halfway up the aisle observing the action. Levy gets the upper hand when Frazier intervenes, and he uses the lumberjacks to his advantage. Eaton makes his comeback but again the lumberjacks, led by Frazier, turn the tide. Then the Arkansas Hit Squad make their way out and go after the Highwaymen, who are still wearing the tag titles. This causes a big brouhaha to break out with all the lumberjacks. Azrael makes his move and climbs to the top rope, launching himself onto all the lumberjacks and taking them all out. Levy goes for the Levy Breaker DDT on Eaton, but Eaton holds on to the top rope, then hits a spinning neckbreaker and the Alabama Jam to retain the title. The Highwaymen escape with the tag belts again. 10 mins. A pre-taped promo from Brad Armstrong airs. He says that when Brian X turned on him it broke his heart, and Tracy Smothers just added insult to injury. He says that there's room in the woodshed for Smothers too, and challenges him to a match next week. Hype video for Shaw Vs Payne showing the history between the two. A video recaps the end of last week's show when Sabu's music got piped in. Match 2: Ron Simmons Vs Christopher Chavis. 5 minute challenge match- if Chavis survives he gets an ECW title match. Lex Luger joins Joey Styles in the booth. Styles asks Luger if he's worried about Sabu, and Luger says Nord will deal with Sabu if he actually comes back. Styles asks if he's worried about Chavis and Luger just laughs. Simmons dominates the match from the bell, toying with Chavis. Chavis takes the abuse and makes a big comeback, getting a nearfall with a big tomahawk chop from the top. Luger is on his feet and getting worried. Simmons cuts the comeback off with a clothesline and then motions it's over, with a little point to Luger. He picks Chavis up but Chavis small packages him and picks up the win in 4 mins. Luger hits the ring and lays Chavis out with a forearm blast, and he and Simmons immediately start putting the boots to Chavis as Styles puts over the upset and the implications. Luger lifts Chavis into the Torture Rack, but Enter Sandman hits and Sandman and Larry Zbyszko hit the ring and run the heels off. Zbyszko gets a mic. "Now, the Sandman and I may not have much in common, but there are a couple of ways in which we're alike. First, we're both proud to represent this great state of Pennsylvania. And second, neither one of us is quitters. Right, Sandman?" "I never quitted once in my life. Luger- you never could make me quit, and you never will be able to, and that goes double for you Simmons. You want to settle this in an I Quit match, let's put pen to paper and make it official. We accept". A vignette airs of Marc Mero going into a barber shop in Philly. He's greeted like a king and the barber kicks some other guy out the chair to take care of Mero. Mero asks the barber if he knows about the hair match with Ricky Morton. The barber says the whole town knows about it, and asks Mero why he wants his hair cut now. Mero says he's going to shave Morton bald, and wants to look good doing it, and asks the barber to make him look even more pretty. We cut to later and Mero has his hair all poufed up with highlights in it. He pays the barber and gives him a $1 tip before leaving. The barber looks at the dollar bill and says he hopes Morton beats him. Nord cuts a promo in the back. He says he gave Sabu a warrior's burial in Valhalla, and nobody returns from Valhalla. He says someone is trying to play games with him, but that he doesn't enjoy games and when he finds out who is responsible, they will fall by his sword. Another hype video for Shaw Vs Payne airs. Styles tells us that next week we have the hair match, Brad Armstrong Vs Tracy Smothers, and the final chapter of the Azrael/Levy rivalry, with Nelson Frazier handcuffed to the ringpost. He also says in two weeks it will be title night, as Luger will defend against Chavis and the AHS defend against the Highwaymen. Match 3: Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw w/Madusa Vs Maximilian Payne. TV time remaining is 20 mins. Shaw is out first. Payne stops in the aisle and signals for someone to come out. He is joined by Barry Horowitz. Shaw and Payne have a staredown and then start trading punches. The match ends up on the outside with Payne in full control, beating Shaw from pillar to post. They brawl through the crowd and back into the ring. Shaw gets an advantage. Madusa looks like she's going to interfere, but Horowitz warns her off. Shaw avalanches Payne in the corner for a 2 count. He goes for another but Payne moves. Payne goes to the top rope. Horowitz is chasing Madusa around the ring and then into the ring and between Payne and Shaw. This distraction allows Shaw to crotch Payne on the top rope, powerslam him off and then hit a Guaranteed Finish to get the win after 14 mins. Madusa and Shaw celebrate in the aisleway as Horowitz apologises to Payne. Payne pats him on the back to tell him it's okay. Match 4: Rex Mason w/Steve Henry Vs Ricky Morton. Bonus match with 5 mins left. Morton picks up the win with the Rockin' Huricanrana when the AHS make their way out and distract the Highwaymen. The Highwaymen run away. Morton is in the crowd celebrating with some middle aged ladies who are feeling his mullet (literally and figuratively) as we go off the air.

ECW TV Episode 21 - 21/5/93 Joey Styles is in the ring. "Welcome to ECW TV, the most action-packed hour of wrestling television there is. We have another jam-packed show for you tonight, so without further ado- Ron Simmons and the ECW champion, Lex Luger". Luger and Simmons make their way out, jaw-jacking with fans along the way. Simmons gets in Styles' face, as Luger takes the mic. "Last week I said I had a challenge for the Sandman and old man Zbyszko, but first let me explain just who we are. We are the most dominant force in the wrestling world. Two natural athletes with intelligence, power, speed, the total package you might say. You can take any two wrestlers from anywhere in the world and they wouldn't stand a chance against us. I'm the man who, on his first night in this company, took the ECW championship from your hometown hero, the Sandman. And I've made him my bitch ever since. I stood face to face in this ring with the psychotic Sid Vicious, and I pinned him one two three. Anyone who has tried to step in our way has been taken out, from Sabu to Maximilan Payne to Christopher Chavis. But there is one blot on our copybook, one black mark on our perfect record, and that came when Sandman and Zbyszko somehow beat us at Extreme Easter, surely the biggest miracle ever associated with Easter. Well, we can't let that stand, which brings me to my challenge. Larry, Sandman, we want to do it all again. Bring your pathetic home state fans, bring your tables, bring everything you've got, because this time we're gonna end it. This time we want you in an I Quit match". RS- "In a state known for quitters, it will be only fitting that your great hope, the Pennsylvania Wrecking Crew, will be made to utter those two words, I Quit, when we show them some down home Southern hospitality. You have a week to answer the challenge, boys". They make to leave, but are interrupted by Christopher Chavis, who has a mic. "Luger, you talk a good game, but seem to have selective memory. Let me remind you that you didn't beat me, you couldn't beat me, and I don't think you can beat me". LL- "Look, Ron, it's Tonto. Tonto, you've got a lot of nerve, or maybe you're just stupid. You see, if I was you, I would have headed back to the reservation after our match, and lived the rest of my days with the memory of the night you stood in the ring with the great Lex Luger and somehow survived to tell the tale. Everybody knows that you were saved by the bell that night, and in another second you would have been crying uncle in the torture rack". CC- "Let's put that theory to the test. Why not fight me again, right here tonight?" Simmons grabs the mic from Luger. "You disrespectful little punk. You're lucky I don't break you in half right now, coming out here and interrupting us". LL- "It's cool, Ron. Guys like this don't learn, but I have an idea for you. You want a shot at me, Tonto? Well, how about this. Next week you go one on one with my man, Ron Simmons, and if you last even 5 minutes with him, then you can step back in the ring with me, and I'll put this ECW championship belt on the line. What do you say?" "I say I'll see you next week". Commercial break. We come back and Styles excitedly recaps the opening segment, and then throws us to ringside for our first match. Match 1: The Arkansas Hit Squad Vs The Highwaymen. ECW tag team title match, 15 minute time limit. The Highwaymen come out wearing the tag belts, and the AHS attack them from behind. They brawl in the aisle and then head into the ring. Both teams take a turn in control, using rule-breaking tactics to gain and keep the advantage. Finally the Highwaymen have Canterbury set up for Stand and Deliver, but Knight makes the save, and sends Steve Henry over the top. Now the AHS are lining up a Hangman's Noose on Rex Mason, but Henry reaches in and pulls Mason out the ring. The Highwaymen try to escape into the crowd but the AHS cut them off. However, Mason and Henry have snaffled the tag belts and turn around and waffle their opponents with them, drawing the DQ after 10 mins. They celebrate with the belts, but the AHS are straight back up, so the Highwaymen scarper with the belts once again. A video shows clips of previous altercations between Nord and Sid Vicious, to hype their match for later. Then we cut to Ricky Morton in the back. "Mero, you talk about playing games, well, I'm not here to play games. You wanna know my next move? I'll lay it out straight for ya. An eye for an eye, brother. You wanna cut a lock of my hair, well, I wanna shave your whole entire head. Let's settle this once and for all in a hair match". Next a promo by Mero. "You wanna compare my beautiful locks to your ratty mullet? There is no comparison, just like there's no comparison between our ring skills. So I accept your challenge. I'll teach you a lesson in the ring, and then shave you bald." Styles says the hair match will take place in two weeks time. Match 2: Scott Levy and Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw w/Madusa and Nelson Frazier Vs 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton and Azrael. 10 min time limit. Styles says Levy has been granted a rematch for the TV title due to the controversial ending to his last title match, and that will take place next week and will be a lumberjack match. He also hypes up for next week the long-awaited battle between Shaw and Maximilian Payne. He says Payne has been told to stay home this week. Levy spends the match avoiding Azrael. Eaton plays face in peril. Finally Azrael gets his hands on Levy, but Frazier immediately comes in for the dq after 6 mins. Levy, Shaw and Frazier start a 3-on-2 beatdown, but Payne's music hits and he makes his way out through the crowd. He jumps in the ring to even the odds, and after a short brawl the heels retreat. Styles predicts the lumberjack match is going to get crazy. The ring announcer starts announcing the main event, but is cut off by 'Straight Outta Compton' and Brian X and Tracy Smothers come out, cackling like hyenas. They hit the ring. X-"How about that match last week? Brad Armstrong Vs Brian X with Tracy Smothers as your guest referee, and what a guest referee he was. Called it straight down the middle, and when the smoke cleared, raised yours truly's hand in the air victorious. But Tracy, I know there's something you want to get off your chest, so I'm gonna yield the floor to you". TS- "Thank you, Brian. Now, all week, all I've been hearing is 'why, Tracy, why? Why did you turn your back on Brad Armstrong?' And the answer is simple. I didn't. Brad Armstrong turned his back on me. Let me give you a little history. A few months back, Brian X here was brutally attacked by the Arkansas Hit Squad. They branded him like cattle, and knocked him loopy. When I saw that, I immediately vowed revenge. I stepped up to the plate to defend the honour of a family that I've always respected, and always felt like I was an honourary member of. So I went after the Hit Squad and I endured my fair share of beatings. And where were you, Brad Armstrong? When I needed a tag team partner to face the Hit Squad, I had to go cap in hand to that freak, Sid Vicious, a man I didn't even know. And where were you, Brad Armstrong? When Sid Vicious lost that match to the Hit Squad, and I took a little sabbatical from wrestling, where were you, Brad Armstrong? You see, it's exaclty like Brian said all along, you are a selfish man, from a selfish family. I gave everything to you and you didn't even acknowledge my existence. You treated me like some groupie, some fanboy, convenient when you needed me, but a nuisance when you didn't. Brian X, I do believe you when you say that that gene pool is poisoned, and I'm proud to say that you, and you alone, are my brother, and the Armstrong family, the whole rotten lot of you, you can kiss my ass" Smothers spits at the camera lens. Match 3: Sid Vicious Vs Nord. TV time remaining is 10 mins. Vicious passes X and Smothers in the aisle, and the two keep their distance, but Vicious is focused on matters at hand. This is a slobberknocker, with both men throwing bombs at each other. Sid sends Nord over the top with a clothesline and goes after him, but Nord catches him with the Road to Valhalla on the floor. Nord rolls back into the ring as the ref advances with his count. Sid struggles up to the apron and is apparently going to beat the count, but Nord send him back to the floor with another Road to Valhalla and Sid is now motionless as the ref, starting his count again, goes all the way to 10. Nord takes it via countout after 8 mins. Nord is marching around the ring like a crazy man, yelling how no-one can stop him and all will fall. His music cuts off and we get a quick 5 second blast of Sabu's music, before returning to Nord's. This stops Nord in his tracks, and we end the show with him blathering 'where is he?' 'No!' and the like.

ECW TV Episode 20 - 14/5/93 Joey Styles is in the commentary booth to welcome us. He starts by informing us of the injury to Bob Backlund at the hands of Canterbury, as we are shown video of the moment it occurred. The Arkansas Hit Squad's music hits and the champs come out to join Joey. "Zbyszko, we took out your buddy Backlund, and we'll take out you, the Sandman, the Highwaymen, it don't matter to us. You step in our way and you're gonna end up in a hospital bed". Match 1: Larry Zbyszko and the Sandman Vs The Highwaymen. 15 minute time limit, number one contenders match. The AHS are standing watching the action from the booth. They jaw jack with Larry Z and Sandman as they come out. After about 10 mins, Zbyszko and Sandman look to be zoning in on the win. The AHS make their way to ringside and try to get into the ring. As the ref orders them away, Lex Luger hits the ring and nails Sandman with the ECW belt. Steve Henry covers and the Highwaymen pick up the win. The AHS are smug, and mocking Larry Zbyszko, but they don't see the Highwaymen help themselves to the tag team belts which they had left on the commentary table. The Highwaymen scarper with the titles as the AHS pursue. After the break Styles catches Luger for a quick word in the back, asking him to explain his actions. Luger says The Sandman and Zbyszko are a blot on his and Ron's copybook, and that next week they have a challenge to issue. We see a replay of the closing moments of last week's show with Horowitz being discovered a bloody mess, and then cut to Maximilian Payne, who is playing a lament on his guitar. "I'm what you would call a loner. I didn't have any friends in high school. Didn't want any. And yes, it's true, I was never much of a hit with the ladies. But there is one person in this world who I call a friend, one person who I allowed to get close to me. That's Barry Horowitz. Now, Barry will be back in due time, of that I have no doubt, but as for you Mike Shaw... Now we know the time, and we know the place. 2 weeks from today in the ECW arena. The only thing that's still up in the air is just how bad I beat you". We cut to a Mike Shaw and Madusa promo. "2 weeks, Payne, and I finally get to put my hands on you. I can't wait. Barry Horowitz, he was just the appetiser. I hope you put up more of a fight than he did, Payne, but it doesn't matter, because just like him, you're going to be begging for mercy. Lay some sugar on me, Maddy". Styles confirms the Shaw/Payne match for 2 weeks, calling it one of the most anticipated matches in ECW history, then we cut to CCTV footage of Scott Levy and Nelson Frazier in the back. Levy tells Frazier that tonight is his night to win the TV champ, but Frazier has to ensure that Azrael doesn't interfere in the match. "Do what you're paid to do, Frazier. Find Azrael, and take him out", Match 2: Brian X Vs Brad Armstrong. 15 mins with Tracy Smothers as guest ref. A video package shows how this all came about. Brad dominates early on, but X turns the tables. X gets a nearfall and then gets into the face of Smothers, telling him to count faster. They get into a shoving match which results in Brad rolling up X and getting a nearfall of his own. Brad makes a comeback, and signals for the end, hitting a bulldog on X. He covers, 1-2... Smothers stops the count. "What the hell was that?" "He got a shoulder up" "Like hell he did. What's going on here?" Brad grabs Tracy and Tracy threatens to DQ him. He then tells him to look out behind him. Brad instinctively turns back towards X, allowing Tracy to low blow him. X tombstones Brad, covers him, and Smothers counts the 3. 8 mins. X and Smothers embrace, and then start laying the boots into Armstrong. Smothers blows a snot rocket onto Armstrong, and he and X leave together laughing. Styles sells shock and disgust. CCTV footage shows Frazier lurking around backstage looking for Azrael. As he walks by we see a be-hooded man in the shadows. A video shows clips of Nord and Sid Vicious being dominant, and Styles hypes their match for next week. Marc Mero cuts a promo in the back. "This is quite the game we're playing here, Ricky Morton. First, you stole from me my dream debut, so I broke your nose. Then, you humiliated me by stripping me down to my underwear, so I took this (holds up the lock of Morton's mullet that he cut off last week). Ball's back in your court". Match 3: 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton Vs Scott Levy. 15 minute time limit for the TV title. This is defense #6 for Eaton. Levy is struggling to get going in the match, and goes so far as to call out for Frazier to help him. He finally gets a foothold in the match, but can't keep Eaton down. Now he's desperately crying out for Frazier, but Azrael's music hits. He makes his way out but Frazier attacks him from behind and lays him out. But when Frazier rips off his hood, it isn't Azrael. This malarkey has allowed Eaton to recover, and he drops Levy with a double arm underhook backbreaker, and then puts him away with the Alabama Jam. Frazier advances on the ring, but the real Azrael attacks him from behind, and the show goes off the air with Styles telling us to tune in next week for Nord Vs Vicious and the tag team title match.

ECW TV Episode 19 - 7/5/93 Joey Styles welcomes us to the show and runs down what's in store for the night, including the TV title number one contenders match between Brad Armstrong and Scott Levy. He then introduces Maximilian Payne out for an exclusive interview. Styles welcomes Payne back to ECW and asks him about his time in jail. Payne says that the whole world is a jail cell, so being in an actual one was no big deal to him. He says that Mike Shaw and Madusa's little scheme worked in that it got him out of their hair for a few weeks, but all it really did was make him angrier and gave him the time to think up more ways to hurt them. Shaw and Madusa come out, and stand a safe distance away from Payne. Madusa asks Joey how he can stand there next to a pervert like Payne, a man who put his dirty hands all over her without her consent. Payne says Madusa is full of crap, and that he had a cast-iron alibi for the night in question, and the only reason he did jail time was because he nearly pulled a cop's arm out of the socket. "And anyway, who'd believe that I'd want to touch you? I know where you've been". Shaw makes like he's heading to the ring but Madusa holds him back. She says Payne is going to get his, and he won't know what hit him. A video airs showing the Brad Armstrong/Brian X/Tracy Smothers situation from last week. Match 1: Scott Levy w/Nelson Frazier Vs Brad Armstrong. 15 minute time limit with the winner to face Bobby Eaton next week for the TV title. Brad is a house on fire in the early going, but his momentum is quelled by Frazier, who causes a distraction on the outside, and then takes some cheap shots of his own while Levy has the ref distracted. Armstrong starts a comeback, but gets his foot tripped by Frazier, as Styles remarks how valuable an asset the big man is proving. When Frazier gets involved a third time, squashing Brad against the ring post, Azrael appears out of nowhere and starts laying in punches on the big man. Frazier and Azrael brawl into the crowd, and Armstrong makes a comeback in the ring. He hits a high cross body for a nearfall, and then signals to go up again. Brian X makes his way out with a mic, "hey homey, check this, you think you can fly? Your coach, me, I'm first class. The only wings you got is chicken wings, and I'm about to Colonel Sanders your ass. Do something, bitch, I dare ya. One glance and you pee your pants, that's how much I scare ya. Don't take your eyes off the prize, bro, that won't get you no titles. Oh man, you just got slammed, quick, someone check his vitals". Levy has slammed Brad off the top rope. Tracy Smothers comes out and starts punching away at Brian X. Brad escapes a Levy Breaker attempt and tries to intervene between X and Smothers but Levy rolls him up and gets the 3 count after 10 mins. Brian X rolls into the ring to escape Smothers, who follows him in. Brad tries to get between them and calm Tracy down, but X pushes Smothers into Brad and makes his escape. A video shows Nord's dominance, and then Sid Vicious cuts a promo challenging Nord to a match in 2 weeks. Match 2: Bob Backlund Vs Canterbury w/Knight. 10 mins. As Backlund comes out we get a recap of him helping Larry Zbyszko to fend off the AHS 2 weeks ago. Backlund gives a strong showing, but a distraction from Knight allows Canterbury to hit a lariat and pick up the win in 6 mins. The AHS follow up with a Hangman's Noose, and Styles tells us that Zbyszko was not in the ECW Arena tonight. Nord cuts a promo in the back responding to Sid's challenge. He says he's the most dominant man in ECW, and the most vicious man, not Sid. He says Sid doesn't have a warrior's heart, but he will do him the honour of a warrior's burial, and lay him to rest in the halls of Valhalla with all his other victims. Match 3: The Highwaymen Vs Ricky Morton and 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton. 15 mins. Styles says this is a tag team title eliminator match, with the winning team going on to face The Sandman and Larry Zbyszko for a shot at the AHS. He puts over how competitive the tag division is these days. The goal here is just a good, fast-paced tag match, with both teams looking good. Morton is still wearing the face mask. The Sandman joins Styles on commentary briefly, and says he and Larry want another crack at the AHS, and also tells Ron Simmons that down the line they're going to face off, and it's going to take a lot more than a broken table to keep Sandman down. The Highwaymen pick up the win, hitting Stand and Deliver to Morton and pinning him. They leave but Levy and Frazier appear on the scene and start laying waste to Eaton. Morton tries to even the odds, but Marc Mero runs in and attacks him. Mero rips off the face mask and starts clawing at Morton's nose. Frazier delivers a couple of splashes to Eaton. Mero drives Morton's face into his knee from a double arm underhook position, a move he calls the Widowmaker. He then takes out a pair of scissors and starts cutting off Morton's mullet. Officials swarm the ring and manage to restore order, but Eaton and Morton have been laid to waste. Styles says what a wild night it has been, and tells us that next week will be a huge show as well. There will be the number one contenders match between The Highwaymen and the Pennsylvania Wrecking Crew, the TV title match between Eaton and Levy, and just announced, Brad Armstrong will face his brother Brian X with Tracy Smothers as the special guest referee. Then we cut to the back where Barry Horowitz has been left a bloody mess by someone. Paramedics surround him, and then Maximilian Payne arrives on the scene to check on his buddy. "Shaw, you son of a bitch, where are you? You're gonna pay for this".

Man, those last two matches were great. What a wild end to the show. I never knew how badly I wanted to see Bad News Vs Hansen. Hope we get a big six-man tag out of it. And a really strong title defense from Dibiase.

You have such an interesting roster that leads to some really cool and unique pairings. Embry teaming with Inoki and Maeda, Candido teaming with Sheik, Gang tussling with Kokina, Infernales against Hillbilly Jim etc. Real fantasy booking.

ECW TV Episode 18 - 30/4/93 We open with Joey Styles in the ring as he pimps tonight's main event, the match they had to change two weeks ago; Mike Shaw, Nord and Scott Levy Vs Bobby Eaton, Sid Vicious and Brad Armstrong in an elimination match. He is cut off by Lex Luger and Ron Simmons. Simmons bullies Styles out the ring as Luger gets a mic. Luger says it's funny what a difference a week makes, as he went from the embarrassment of being pinned by Sandman at Extreme Easter, to picking apart Sid Vicious last week to retain his title. He says ECW keeps lining them up and he keeps knocking them down. Simmons says he made his own statement last week when he put Sandman through a table, and showed everyone that you don't mess with the south. Luger says the ECW arena stinks worse than usual tonight, so they're going to get out of there. As they leave Christopher Chavis makes his way out for his match. Chavis and Luger have a little staredown in the aisle. Match 1: 'The Warhorse' Christopher Chavis Vs Steve Henry w/Rex Mason. 10 minute time limit. This is really a showcase for Chavis, as Styles puts over him hanging with Luger in his debut match. Chavis overcomes some interference from Mason to put Henry away with a fallaway slam in 5 mins. A video airs showing Maximilian Payne's return last week. Then we cut to some CCTV-type footage of Scott Levy and Nelson Frazier chilling in the back. They are approached by Mike Shaw and Madusa. Shaw wants to buy Frazier's services for the evening to protect him from Payne. Levy says he doesn't need the money but says he'll accept another type of payment, as he looks Madusa up and down. Shaw starts to huff and puff but Levy tells him to relax. He says if anyone tries to interfere in their match tonight, be it Payne, Azrael, or anyone else, then Frazier will take care of it. Match 2: Azrael Vs Brian X. 10 minute time limit. BX looks proper pissed off as he walks out, and Styles reminds us all that this is his first appearance since losing the Country Whippin' match to Brad Armstrong as Extreme Easter. X tries to get the jump on Azrael, but Azrael overpowers him and wins in 3 mins. Azrael does a cut throat gesture into the camera and Styles speculates that it's aimed at Levy and Frazier. We come back from a break to see Brian X still in the ring with a mic. X blames Brad Armstrong for his loss, and says that he won't rest until he has run Brad out of wrestling. He says the Armstrong family is a disgrace and he spits on their name and their legacy. Tracy Smothers' music hits and Smothers walks out. Styles says we haven't seen Tracy in a while and notes that he is close with the Armstrong family. TS- "Look at you. Look at what you've become. Are you so stupid as to not see what your family - yes, your family - has done for you. How they've loved you, protected you, taken pride in you. All my life growing up in Georgia I watched your family and spent time with your family, and I wanted more than anything for my last name to be Armstrong. And here you are throwing it all away, for God knows what reason. Brian, you're an Armstrong and you need to look deep inside yourself and remember what that means". "Tracy, you're in luck, because for tonight only, you get to be an Armstrong". BX takes Smothers down and mounts him with punches. Smothers turns the tide and they go back and forth until Brad Armstrong runs out. Brad pulls Smothers off BX and tries to calm with down, but BX cheapshots Brad from behind, knocking him into Smothers, before retreating up the ramp barking threats. Match 3: Brad Armstrong, 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton and Sid Vicious Vs Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw, Scott Levy and Nord w/Madusa and Nelson Frazier. Elimination match with TV time remaining, about 35 mins. Lots of back and forth in the early going, with everyone getting some ring time. Vicious is still selling the damage that Luger did to his leg last week. Shaw and Madusa come out looking nervously around. Nord and Sid have another confrontation with Sid again coming out on top, which sends Nord bananas again. Shaw tags in as Nord rampages in the crowd and in the kerfuffle Madusa screams as Maximilian Payne walks out into the aisle. Frazier steps confidently into the aisle blocking Payne's path to the ring. Shaw mocks Payne but turns into a chokeslam from Sid. Sid tags Eaton and Eaton finishes Shaw off with the Alabama Jam, eliminating him after 12 mins. Payne backs away, laughing, happy with his work. The heels take over with Brad playing face in peril for a bit. He hot tags Eaton and Eaton goes to work on Levy. Sid cuts off Nord but Frazier trips Eaton as he runs the ropes. Levy drops Eaton with the Levy Breaker and pins him after 20 mins. Levy celebrates like he has just won the TV title, and doesn't see Brad Armstrong come off the top with a missile dropkick, and Levy is gone after 21 mins. As the ref gets an angry Levy out the ring, Frazier pulls BA out the other side, whips him into the steel barricade, and then pancakes him against it, leaving him clutching his ribs on the floor. Sid returns to his corner as Nord waits for Brad in the ring. Brad just beats the 10 count, but Nord goes to work on him. Nord misses a charge in the corner, and somehow makes the tag to Sid. Sid is dominant, and ends up hitting a chokeslam on Nord, but Nord kicks out at 2, shocking Sid and Joey Styles. Sid regains his composure and goes for a powerbomb, but Nord clubs at his injured leg and then hits the Road to Valhalla, pinning Sid in the middle of the ring after 27 mins. It's almost a carbon copy of earlier as Armstrong hits a missile dropkick on Nord but Nord kicks out. Nord goes to the floor and BA planchas out over the top onto him, but this does as much damage to Armstrong as it does Nord. Nord is up to his feet first and hits the Road to Valhalla on the outside. He rolls him back into the ring and stalks him as Brad bravely fights back up to his feet. Another Road to Valhalla is all she wrote though, ending the match at the 32 minute mark. Styles puts over Brad's fighting spirit and Nord's dominance. Nord is yelling that no warrior in ECW can stop him, when the lights flicker off and on. Nord is looking around but no-one comes out. We have a few mins left so Styles shows us some replays of the match and then announces that based on happenings in this match, next week we will get Scott Levy Vs Brad Armstrong in a TV title number one contenders match. He also says that next week he will interview Maximilian Payne, and Bob Backlund has challenged a member of the Arkansas Hit Squad.

ECW TV Episode 17: ECW Takes Manhattan - 23/4/93 We open with a video, showing black and white stills of New York City as George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue swells up. We hear a voice: "Chapter 1. He hated New York City. The smell, the noise, the people.. No, make that he despised New York City. To him, no matter what the season was, this was a city that always reeked of the sweat of 8 million left wing do-gooders' unwashed armpits. No, let me start this over. That's too romantic. Chapter 1. New York City sucks. When he thought of the city he wanted to throw up, like the effects of so many street corner pretzels. Whoa, too angry. I don't want to be angry. Chapter 1. He was as tough and romantic as the city he loved. Atlanta, Georgia. New York couldn't contain his sexual prowess, so he left and never came back. I love this." We cut to Lex Luger standing in Times Square as the music abruptly stops, and Ron Simmons walks into the shot. RS- "What the hell are you doing." "The New York City tourist board found out I was going to be in town and, as the city's most famous son, they asks me to write a little something for their next brochure". "You think they're going to print any of that?" "What do I care? They paid up front. Come on, let's take care of Sid Vicious and then get out of this dump." They walk off. LL- "Hey, did you know New York City has more rats per square foot than any other city in the world?" "Yeah, but the rats in the South are more accommodating" "You got that right". They exit the shot laughing, as the opening credits roll. Joey Styles is in the ring and welcomes us to the show, and says it's good for him to be home in NYC. He is interrupted by 'Magnificent' Marc Mero's music, and Mero joins him in the ring. "What better place for me to make my return than right here in my home city. Of course, I had to move to the suburbs because of all the crime. But I know you people worship me like a king, so I came back just for you. Plus, I've been watching the last few weeks, Joey, and you've really been stinking it up on your own. Now, I do just want to mention Ricky Morton really quickly. You see, for weeks I'd been planning my in-ring debut here in ECW. It was going to be perfect, triumphant, epic. But Ricky Morton took that away from me. He goaded me into a match, and then cheapshotted me and beat me. Now I'll never get that debut match back again, but I did make an example out of Ricky Morton when I broke his nose, and I hope now everyone will see that 'Magnificent' Marc Mero is no laughing matter". Match 1: "Beautiful' Bobby Eaton Vs Mike "Sugarlips" Shaw w/Madusa. TV title match with a 15 minute time limit. Mero and Eaton have a little staredown in the aisle, and Mero tells Eaton he needs to worry about Shaw, not him. Styles reminds us this is defense number 5 for Eaton. Shaw is dominating the match with his girth, cutting off any flurries Eaton gets in. When Eaton finally gets the big man off balance, Madusa is on the apron to cause a distraction. Shaw looks like he's about to finish things off but Eaton avoids the Guaranteed Finish. He hits a dropkick off the second rope to take Shaw down but Madusa is on the apron again. This time Eaton grabs her and asks the crowd what he should do. Shaw runs in but Eaton moves sending Shaw into Madusa, then he rolls Shaw up and pins him. 8 mins. Shaw catches Eaton with a clothesline after the match, and then hits a Guaranteed Finish. He's lining up another when 'Rape Me' plays over the PA, and Maximilian Payne appears in the crowd, still wearing his prison-issued clothing. Shaw sells it like he's seen a ghost as Payne beelines towards the ring. The two start hammering away at each other, with Payne getting the advantage. The fight spills to the outside and Payne sends Shaw into the ring post then gets a chair. He misses a wild swing and Shaw takes the chance to flee, with officials and security holding Payne back. Sid cuts a promo in the back about how Luger is a bully who uses the numbers game to his advantage. He says he can take care of Luger and Simmons on his own if he has to, and that he will become the new ECW champion tonight. Styles and Mero are talking about Payne's shocking return. Mero says Shaw will make him pay. Out of nowhere, Ricky Morton, wearing a Virgil-style face mask, dives across the announce table and starts wailing on Mero. He drags him down to the ring and throws him in. He beats him down in the ring with punches and then starts ripping off Mero's custom made suit, stripping him down to his underpants and socks, Mero runs off humiliated as Morton celebrates in the ring. A video shows Scott Levy and Nelson Frazier walking down Wall Street. Levy tells Frazier that he's dominated "this world", and now it's time for him to dominate the wrestling world. He says he sees championship gold in his near future. Frazier just gives a "yes boss". A homeless man asks Levy for some change. Levy gives Frazier a nod and Frazier grabs the bum by his collar and lifts him up above his head. Levy just walks off with a smile. "I love this town". Bob Backlund comes out to the ring. "I had a dream of returning to New York City, the city where I made my name, and I would be on top of the wrestling world once again. Well, I guess it hasn't worked out that way. I didn't come out of retirement and come to ECW to be a loser. I see that my old ways, the technical way, isn't getting me very far around here. But if any of you are old enough to have seen my fights with the likes of Stan Hansen and Killer Khan, you'll know that I can brawl with the best of them, and if that's what it takes..." He's cut off by Larry Zbyszko's music. LZ- "Bob, we're from the same generation, and we both made our names here in New York City. Me when I retired Bruno Sammartino, and you as the WWF champion. When I look at you now, you don't just make me embarrassed, you make me sick. You can talk all you want about the past and your great brawls, but unless you start to show it in the present, you may as well go back into retirement. Because right now you're not cutting it, and it's frankly pretty pathetic to hear you out here making excuses. Suck it up, stop crying like a bitch, and get extreme". Backlund gets in Larry's face, and kinda nods in agreement before leaving the ring. Match 2: The Arkansas Hit Squad Vs Larry Zbyszko and The Sandman. Tag team title match with 20 mins time limit. Larry Z and Sandman dominate the early going, before a double team starts on Zbyszko. Ron Simmons joins Joey on commentary, and tells Joey to shut his New York mouth while he calls the match. Zbyszko gets the hot tag to Sandman and Sandman is a house of fire. All four men are brawling and Sandman pulls a table out from under the ring. "Aw, hell no" says Simmons as he heads down to the ring. Sandman stops to jaw jack with Simmons and gets ambushed by the champs. A Hangman's Noose spells the end for Sandman after 11 mins. Simmons spinebusters Sandman off the apron through the table. "That's your receipt, white boy". Zbyszko tried to make the save but was cut off by the AHS who now set him up for the Noose, but Backlund comes back out with a chair and runs the AHS off. A video recaps the Luger/Chavis match from last week. Styles says Chavis will be in action next week, and Brian X makes his first appearance since losing to Brad Armstrong at Extreme Easter. Styles then tells us that due to his earlier actions, Simmons has been escorted out of the arena meaning Luger must now go it alone with Sid. Match 3: Lex Luger Vs Sid Vicious. ECW title match. 15 minutes remain. Luger comes out with the Georgia flag. Sid is dominating the match for 5 minutes or so, until he misses a big boot and gets his leg hung up on the top rope. Luger goes after Sid's leg, including hitting it with a steel chair. "Disqualify me then!" Sid makes a one-legged comeback, getting a big nearfall with the chookeslam. He can't execute the powerbomb though and Luger slithers out the ring. Sid follows, but Luger kicks him in the knee and gets another chair. The ref takes the chair from him but this gives Luger the chance to hit Sid with the ECW belt, which busts him open. He rolls Sid back in the ring, but Sid kicks out a pin attempt at two. He goes for the running forearm but Sid ducks and goes for the powerbomb again. His leg gives out once more and this time Luger lands on top of Sid, hooks him tightly, grabs the ropes, and gets the win just as the show is coming to a close. Luger lays some more boots into Sid's leg as the show ends.

ECW TV Episode 16 - 16/4/93 The show starts with Joey Styles in the ring bigging up Extreme Easter, and telling fans how they can order the VHS. "But here at ECW we don't rest on our laurels, and next week is another huge night for us. ECW will take a bite out of the Big Apple, as for the first time ever we bring you ECW TV from New York City. And we're giving New York a show like only ECW can as, for the first time ever on ECW TV, all three championships will be on the line. We will see Mike Shaw get his shot at 'Beautiful' Bobby's TV title. We will see the Arkansas Hit Squad defend the tag team titles against a team on a roll here in ECW, The Sandman and Larry Zbyszko. And the big one, Lex Luger defends the ECW title against the new number one contender, Sid Vicious! But we haven't forgotten about you fans here tonight, and do we have a main event for you. It's going to be a star-studded 6-man tag team elimination match. On one team will be Mike Shaw, Scott Levy and the Viking King, Nord, and they will be facing the TV champion, Bobby Eaton, Brad Armstrong and Sid Vicious." The Wall Street theme blasts out and Scott Levy marches out with his 500 lb beast. "Hit the bricks, Styles. Well, now maybe you see that when I said I was going to dominate ECW, I wasn't joking. This right here is Nelson Frazier. 500 pounds of pure brute force. You see, a man of my means is always going to be a target, so I went out and got myself some security. The best that money can buy. This man would take a bullet for me, ain't that right, Fraze?" "That's right, Mr Levy". "I pay him well, and he does what I say, when I say it, and with this man watching my back, the whole of ECW better be prepared for the Scott Levy era". Match 1: The Highwaymen Vs Bob Backlund and Barry Horowitz. 10 min time limit. The Highwaymen get a pop up promo in which they call themselves the best tag team in ECW and say it's only a matter of time before they're wearing gold. Styles talks about Backlund's poor record since coming to ECW. Basic tag team match which the Highwaymen win with their finisher, Stand and Deliver- an inverted atomic drop/superkick combo. 7 mins. Backlund takes the fall and is visibly frustrated after the match. A clip airs of Marc Mero attacking Ricky Morton at Extreme Easter. Styles says Morton has a broken nose. Lex Luger and Ron Simmons angrily storm to the ring. LL- "Everybody shut your mouths, because I'm not in the mood for any of your bullshit. Now I came here tonight about ready to explode because of what happened at Extreme Easter. Everybody who saw that match knows that Ron and I were robbed. The referee was biased, we had the whole crowd against us, and they changed it to a no holds barred match, which we didn't prepare for. Then I show up here tonight, and I find out I have to defend my ECW title next week against Sid Vicious. What the hell did he do to earn a shot at my title? It's obvious that the powers that be here in ECW are trying to screw me, and trying to screw Ron Simmons and we're not going to take it. I'm begging someone to step up to me tonight, because I'm in the mood to destroy someone". Luger spies Christopher Chavis in the crowd. "What's this? Aren't you the guy I knocked out with my forearm at Extreme Easter? You got something to say about it?" Luger and Simmons approach Chavis. "Come on, you look like you have something you wanna say." Chavis is maintaining his cool. "Seriously, what happened to you, that was an accident. You were just collateral damage. Come on, come in the ring. We smokem peace pipe". This raises Chavis' ire and he climbs over the barricade. Luger and Simmons get into the ring and invite him in. He climbs in tentatively. "Come on, Tonto, I'm kidding around. I wanna apologise for knocking you out. Really" Chavis grabs the mic. "My name isn't Tonto. It's Christopher Chavis". "Okay, I'm just having a little fun. I know who you are. They call you the Warhorse, right? Well, there's a war going on in ECW right now, Mr Warhorse, and I'd like to know which side you're on. Because you see, you're either with us, or against us". With that Simmons attacks Chavis from behind. They do a number on him then whip him to the ropes. Chavis ducks and hits them with a jumping double clothesline. Chavis clotheslines Simmons over the top, then goes to work on Luger with chops. He whips him but Simmons pulls Luger out the ring. Luger is shouting "you're dead" to Chavis as Simmons ushers him away. We come back from a commercial break to see Luger throwing shit around in the back as Simmons tries to calm him down. JS- "Major breaking news here, folks. I can tell you that our 6-man elimination tag match has now been changed to a regular one-fall match. That is because we just found out during the commercial break that Lex Luger is going to face Christopher Chavis in the ring here tonight, and get this, it's going to be for the ECW title. Luger got into the face of ECW owner Tod Gordon, demanding a match with Chavis, and Gordon said well, if you want the match, let's put the ECW title on the line". Match 2: Nord, Scott Levy and Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw w/Madusa and Nelson Frazier Vs 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton, Sid Vicious and Brad Armstrong. 30 min time limit. All 6 men get some time to show what they can do in this match. At one point Nord and Sid square up and start exchanging punches. Sid comes out on top and clotheslines Nord over the top rope. Nord goes batty, tearing down part of the guard rail and rampaging into the crowd. Levy and Shaw try to calm him down, but Nord pushes Levy down on his ass. This sets Frazier off who approaches Nord with purpose, but Madusa, Shaw and Levy manage to intervene and calm things down. The faces play to the crowd as this goes on. Brad Armstrong ends up playing face in peril for a while. With the heels in control, Azrael comes out of nowhere and starts laying shots into Frazier on the outside. Levy jumps on Azrael and the three of them start brawling in the aisle, and to the back. This distraction allows Brad to hot tag Eaton. Now we have a melee. Sid and Nord start brawling, leaving just Eaton and Shaw. Eaton strikes with a missile dropkick, and then goes up top for an Alabama Jam. With the ref distracted by what's going on around the ring, Madusa crotches Eaton on the top rope. Shaw avalanches Eaton in the corner and pins him for the win. 20 mins. Madusa hands Shaw the TV title, and he holds it up victoriously. The Arkansas Hit Squad cut a promo in the back saying Arkansas is tougher than Pennsylvania and that they've put a hit out on the Sandman and Larry Zbyszko. Match 3: Lex Luger w/Ron Simmons Vs Christopher Chavis. ECW title match with TV time remaining, which is 15 mins. Chavis is a house on fire in the early going, dominating Luger with chops, a dropkick and such. Luger gets the advantage, and his class and experience start to show. Simmons gets some shots in too, but Sid Vicious comes out to even the odds. Sid basically stands watch to make sure Simmons doesn't interfere. Luger is still dominating though, before Chavis makes a spirited comeback, getting nearfalls with a big powerslam and then a small package and backslide as time starts to slip away. Luger ends up jamming a thumb in Chavis' eye and then gets him in the Torture Rack. Chavis fights through the pain for a couple of minutes before time runs out and this is declared a draw, which Styles puts over as a big feat for Chavis in his debut match. Simmons gets in the ring but Sid does too, and we end with a staredown between Luger and Vicious.

ECW Presents EXTREME EASTER - 11/4/93 Joey Styles is in the ring to welcome us to the ECW Arena for ECW's biggest show ever. He talks about the main event but is interrupted by Lex Luger and Ron Simmons who stroll out holding the Georgia state flag. RS: "If I was you, Joey, I'd get out of this ring, because we're in no mood for your Yankee bullshit right now. And all you people can thank the fact that I just know your corrupt police force are itching to throw a Southern black man in jail for the fact that I don't come out there and beat the hell out of every last one of you. Because I could." LL: "You better believe he could. But what we're out here for right now is to let all you people know that if you came here tonight with any idea of seeing your heroes, your so-called Pennsylvania Wrecking Crew, beat us, well you can just get that idea out of your head right now. This city sucks, this state sucks, nothing good came out of here but a bunch of losers, and that goes double for the Sandman and old man Zbyszko". RS: "We represent the great state of Georgia, and the whole of the Southern US, and tonight we're gonna have Yankee blood on our hands. And we're going to start right now". Luger slides out the ring and grabs the timekeeper, a mere slip of a man, who cowers in fear. Luger drags him into the ring as he begs for mercy, instead receiving a crushing slap to the face from Simmons. Styles is disgusted by this. Luger lifts the timekeeper into the Torture Rack but before he can really cinch it officials, Sandman and Zbyszko run out. Simmons and Luger flee, having made their point. Match 1: Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw w/Madusa Vs Sid Vicious, 15 minute time limit. Before the match starts Shaw asks Madusa to get him a mic, which she does. MS- "Now listen to me, Vicious. I didn't ask for this match with you, and I have no beef with you. I'm the number one contender for the television title, and it isn't in my best interests to compete here tonight. What's more, I'm sure you have no interest in a fight here tonight either. So, what do you say we call this one a tie, a no contest, and go our separate ways. Referee, raise my arm, and then raise his arm. This is a draw." Sid responds with a big boot to the face and the ref calls for the bell. Styles is still selling what happened to open the show, and points out we have a replacement timekeeper. Sid pounds away on Shaw for a bit, but Madusa hops up onto the apron and the distraction allows Shaw back into the match. Shaw dominates for several minutes, barking at Sid "you should have taken the draw you stupid son of a bitch". He cuts off a Sid comeback, and then applies the Cuck Hold. He next signals for the Guaranteed Finish, but Sid avoids the splash. Sid is in full 'no sell' mode now, reigning down on Shaw with punches. He sets for the powerbomb, but Madusa is back on the apron. Sid grabs her, but Shaw attacks from behind again. Shaw gives Madusa a kiss, but turns around into a chokeslam from Sid, which gives him the duke. 8 mins. Zbyszko and Sandman cut a fired up promo in the back. Sandman- "You wanna come into our back yard, our home state, and throw out the rulebook. Well, let's do it, let's throw out that rulebook. I'll bring the blood, I'll bring the sweat, I'll bring the violence..." He starts beating himself in the head with his Singapore Cane. :Z-"What my partner means is if you want to fight tonight, then let's do it properly. No rules, no disqualifications, no count-outs. Just four guys beating the hell out of each other until one team has had enough. And we'll show you why we call ourselves a wrecking crew". Match 2: The Arkansas Hit Squad Vs 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton and Ricky Morton. Tag team title match with a 30 minute time limit. The early going sees the babyfaces in total control, with a dazzling display of tag team wrestling; quick tags, double team moves, a little cheating thrown in. Eventually Morton gets low-bridged over the top rope and the champs take over with their usual simple brawling offence. Morton takes a pounding but manages to make the hot tag to Eaton, who unloads with punches, kicks, back elbows and kneelifts. Morton is back in for a donnybrook and he and Knight fight to the outside. Morton tries a hurricanrana on the floor but it's countered by a powerbomb. Eaton is up top for an Alabama Jam, but Knight pushes him off the top and a Hangman's Noose later allows Canterbury to get the pin and retain the belts after 14 mins. After the champs leave Morton crawls back into the ring to check on his partner. he never sees Marc Mero jump out of the crowd and cold cock him from behind. Mero mounts Morton and unleashes a flurry of punches, before turning him over and grinding his face into the mat. He see the mat turn crimson as blood spurts out of Morton's nose. Mero is finally escorted away. Styles speculates that Morton has a broken nose, and says he doubts that's the last time blood will be spilled tonight. A video airs showing the history between Scott Levy and Azrael. Joey Styles points out that Tatanka is sitting in the front row tonight. "The stars are here tonight. There's Christopher Chavis, the Warhorse, who formerly wrestled as Tatanka. Another great young athlete who will be making his debut soon here in ECW, the place to be. Match 3: Scott Levy Vs Azrael. 15 minute time limit, no holds barred. If Levy loses, he will leave ECW. Levy is out first and attacks Azrael as he enters the ring. Styles says Levy has lost convincingly twice before to Azrael and wonders what his tactics will be tonight. Levy is soon on the receiving end of a beating, but ducks out the ring. Azrael goes after him, but Levy was expecting this and pops him in the head with his briefcase. He sends him into the guard rail. Azrael stays on his feet but has slowed down some. Levy sends Azrael back into the ring and tries a cover, getting a 1 count. Kicks and punches follow, but Azrael reverses a suplex. He charges Levy in the corner but Levy moves. Levy goes for the Levy Breaker DDT, but Azrael lifts him up and tosses him across the ring. He then unleashes with clotheslines and a gorilla slam. Finally he signals for the Dance of Death, his spinning powerbomb. He lifts Levy up but a huge 500 pound black man with a mohawk and shades enters the ring the clubs Azrael from behind. He then drops Azrael with a front powerslam, and finishes up with a splash. He helps Levy cover Azrael, and leans on him for some extra leverage as Levy picks up the 1-2-3 in 6 mins. This behemoth then carries Levy to the back. Styles tries to get a word with the pair as they pass, but they ignore him. A video package, set to 'He ain't heavy, he's my brother' airs, first showing old photos of Brian and Brad Armstrong together through the years, then footage of them wrestling together as partners, the good times, and then the belt buckle shot heard around the world, Brian X ripping up a picture of Brad, slapping him, spitting on him, and whipping him with the strap, and ending with a shot of Brad Armstrong crying. Match 4: Brad Armstrong Vs Brian X. 30 min time limit. Country Whippin' Match (strap match rules). Brad walks out totally stoic, whereas Brian, who already has the strap tied to his wrist, is full of energy. BA-"Brian, before we do this, I want to give you one more chance to put an end to all this nonsense. We can forget everything that happened, and just go back to the way things were between us. What do you say?" Brian looks like he's thinking about it, then kicks Brad in the gut and starts punching him in the head. The ref attaches the other end of the strap to Brad and we're underway. Brian is totally on the offensive, choking Brad with the strap and 'clotheslining' him with it. Brad seems really out of sorts, at one point trying a leapfrog but being caught with a shot to the groin, another time mistiming an elementary dropkick. Brian is trashtalking Brad as he chokes him and whips him with the strap. Brad finally starts to fire up and pops off a quick powerslam to turn the tide. However, he baulks at using the strap as a weapon, and that allows Brian to hit another low blow. Brian goes up top but Brad uses the strap to pull him down. Brad then tries to touch the corners but Brian cuts him off and delivers a neckbreaker. Brian follows that up with a pumphandle slam, and then cockily strolls to the corners. Before hitting the last turnbuckle he turns to Brad and says he's a disgrace, just like his father. He then spits on him. He reaches out for the last turnbuckle, but Brad has been roused and holds him back. It's a tug-of-war which Brad wins by pulling Brian back into the middle of the ring and finally opening up with a bevy of punches. He whips him with the strap and then gives him a brainbuster. Brad touches the first three corners, but then stops, apparently second guessing himself. He drops his head and rolls out the ring, hands on hips. Then he looks up with a look of conviction on his face and pulls from under the ring a belt with a heavy metal buckle. he climbs back into the ring and wraps the belt around his fist. The buckle has 'Armstrong' on it. He waits for Brian to stand and then knocks him out with the belt buckle, touches the last corner and drops to his knees in a mix of jubilation and relief. 15 mins. Styles says the main event will now be no holds barred, but says now we have a bonus match. Match 5: Bob Backlund Vs Nord. 10 minute time limit. Styles says Backlund asked for this match after being embarrassed by the effort he put forth in his last encounter with Nord. This time Backlund does a little better, using some amateur wrestling holds to frustrate the big man. But soon he falls to the Road To Valhalla and Nord picks up another win in 5 mins. Mike Shaw and Madusa cut a promo in the back. Shaw says he may have lost tonight, but he's still the number one contender for the TV title, and it won't be long before he has a beautiful championship belt to go with his beautiful girlfriend. Madusa says 'Beautiful' Bobby doesn't know the meaning of beauty, and Mike Shaw is the hottest man in wrestling. A video shows us how we got to our main event, including what happened earlier. Match 6: Lex Luger and Ron Simmons Vs The Sandman and Larry Zbyszko. No Holds Barred. 1 hour time limit. Big introduction for all four men, and a face off in the ring before the brawl begins. They fight around ringside, with the babyfaces firmly in control. Simmons and Zbyszko have paired up and are battling in the ring, with Zbyszko biting and clawing his way to an advantage, while Luger and Sandman renew their rivalry and fight into the crowd. Luger avoids a Singapore cane shot and low blows Sandman. He then opens him up with heavy fists. He charges at him with his bionic forearm, but Sandman moves and Luger hits Christopher Chavis by mistake, knocking the Native American out. As medics help Chavis out, Luger and Sandman continue to do battle through the crowd, while Simmons has taken over in the ring. Simmons is choking Zbyszko with the Georgia flag, but Zbyszko fights back and locks on a sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Simmons is in pain but Luger is back and clotheslines Zbyszko from behind. All four back in the ring again and they swap partners for a bit as they continue the fight. The heels are now on top, and Zbyszko gets lacerated after taking a cane shot to the head. It looks like they're getting ready to polish their opponents off but Sandman avoids a spinebuster with a kick to the balls, and Zbyszko wriggles out of a torture rack and locks on a Cobra Clutch. Sandman and Simmons go to the outside where Sandman busts Simmons open with a chair shot. He then takes a table out from under the ring and sets Simmons up on it, putting him through it with a senton bomb off the apron. In the ring Luger has backed Zbyszko into the corner to break the Cobra Clutch, but Zbyszko gets hold of the cane and levels him with it. Luger turns to find Sandman waiting for him with a chair. Sandman kicks him, tosses down the chair and then piledrives him onto it. He covers for the three count and the victory after 25 minutes. Zbyszko and Sandman tear the Georgia flag in half and climb into the crowd, celebrating their win with the fans. Styles sells it as a huge moment, and thanks everybody for watching as we go off the air with Sandman and Zbyszko drinking beer in the crowd with the fans.

I'm interested in discussing gimmick matches everywhere. I just think it's interesting how few there seemed to be in WWF relative to elsewhere in the 80s and early 90s.

I was watching Hell in a Cell 2016 last night, and it got me thinking about the development of the gimmick match in wrestling. What struck me first of all as I was watching the Reigns/Rusev cell match from that show is that, not only was that match not as good as their straight match from the previous ppv (although I enjoyed it), but I also went in with the expectation that it wouldn't be. Which is kind of strange since you would think the feud-ending gimmick match could be reasonably expected to top a straight match. Part of it is that I just think WWE is poor at booking gimmick matches (I should also mention here that I think Sasha and Charlotte had an all-time great cell match later on this same show, but I could also make a larger point here about the way women's matches are laid out vs how men's matches are laid out in modern WWE). Part of it also is WWE not tailoring their gimmick matches to feuds or wrestlers, but rather booking feuds and wrestlers into gimmick matches just because it's that particular time of month. A gimmick match in WWE isn't inherently a feud-ender anymore. They use gimmick matches to extend feuds, and sometimes to even start feuds. And that hurts the quality and perception, in my view. Another thing I thought about was just the sheer quantity of gimmick matches you get these days. Obviously as the company produces more content, and feuds last longer, they need to have more ways to keep things interesting. So you can see why they go to the gimmick match well so often. But when did that start? Probably around 1998/99 I'm thinking. I'm trying to think of examples from earlier WWF (or other promotions) of big feud-ending gimmick matches, and they seem hard to come by. I know they would often do cage matches on the house shows or big MSG shows or whatever. That was a Bruno staple. Moving into the time when house shows became less important, I can think of Bret and Owen in the cage at Summerslam, Hogan/Bundy of course. I'm struggling to think of any street fights or anything like that on big shows. Crockett had War Games of course, and it seemed more likely you'd get a streetfight in WCW. Maybe that was considered too 'rassling' for Vince. So, I'd like any general thoughts about the way gimmick matches have been used in wrestling history, and the way they're used now. Share favourite memories or personal experiences. I'd also like to know of specific recent examples where the announcement of a gimmick match actually got you excited. The only ones I can think of is where the gimmick match itself isn't the main attraction. I'm thinking of like the first ever women's Hell in a Cell or the first ever women's Elimination Chamber (by the way, I think ECs have historically been WWE's most consistent gimmick matches). Or something like New and Usos getting a cell match, just because it was guys you wouldn't normally see in that setting, and they totally deserved to get that spot(light)- I was at that show, and that match was awesome. I'll also add some thoughts later about why I think WWE gimmick matches are generally awful these days.

ECW TV Episode 15 - 9/4/93 We start with Joey Styles in the ring hyping up Extreme Easter, telling everyone how to get tickets and how to pre-order the VHS. He runs down the card (Luger/Simmons Vs Sandman/Zbyszko, Arkansas Hit Squad Vs Eaton/Morton, Armstrong Vs X country whippin' match) and says he has it on good authority that more matches will be announced tonight. With that he's interrupted by Mike Shaw and Madusa who hit the ring. "Now you may remember that I was scheduled to compete this Sunday, but my opponent.. well, he seems to be otherwise engaged. But I said last week that with that dirtbag out of my hair, I was going to dominate ECW and I want to start with the television title, so Bobby Eaton, I'm challenging you to a match for your title this Sunday at Extreme Easter". JS- "But Eaton is already competing on Sunday". "I don't care. If he's any kind of champion, he'll accept my challenge". Eaton comes out into the aisle with a mic. "Big man, I don't have any problem defending my title against you. I'm fighting champion. But, I was just talking to the booking committee, and the problem isn't that I already have a match this Sunday, it's that you already have a match this Sunday". "What are you talking about? What match? Against who?" "Against him" We hear a maniacal cackle and Sid Vicious makes his way out. Shaw sells fear but stands his ground. Sid steps into the ring and the two have a stare down. Madusa approaches Sid and Shaw takes the opportunity to lay in some shots, but Sid comes back. He irishwhips Shaw, but Shaw grabs the ropes and slithers out the ring, retreating up the ramp. Styles has made his way to his table and puts over the match as a clash of the titans. A quick recap of the Luger/Simmons/Sandman/Zbyszko confrontation last week precedes Simmons and Luger making their way out. LL- "So, it seems, Ron, that we have a fight on our hands this Sunday. The Sandman and Larry Zbyszko think that they are going to defend the honour of their home state, and end our reign of dominance here in ECW. A reign of dominance that has seen us put Sabu on the shelf, and has seen us beat and bloody Maximilian Payne. It's fitting to me that the best this state can offer is a drunk loser, and an old man who's still living on accomplishments from over a decade ago". RS- "Sandman, Larry, I hope you boys know what you've got yourself into. You're stepping onto the field of battle with the premiere athletes in this sport. You're stepping into battle with the ECW champion, Lex Luger. You're stepping into battle with this angry black son of a bitch, and we ain't gonna be taking no mercy on you. It may be Easter Sunday, but believe me, when we put you down, there ain't gonna be no resurrection. We put you down, you stay down, and we'll show you what we're talking about right now." Match 1: Ron Simmons and Lex Luger Vs Ricky Morton and 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton. 15 mins. As Eaton and Morton come out we see video of Morton beating Marc Mero last week, and Styles says Mero is notable by his absence. Styles also talks about Simmons and Luger attacking Eaton after his cage match with Payne some weeks ago. We see in the early going Eaton and Morton using great teamwork to frustrate their foes, really putting over that they're a threat to the tag belts. Simmons and Luger start to double team Morton, but he comes back and makes the hot tag to Eaton. Eaton and Morton have control of the match and Eaton goes up top for the Alabama Jam on Simmons, but Luger pushes him off the top rope after dealing with Morton on the outside. Simmons hits the Emancipation Proclamation on Eaton to get the win after 11 mins. Scott Levy cuts a promo in the back. "Fear is an interesting thing. People fear the unknown, people fear success, people fear death. I fear nothing, because I have this (holds up a fistful of dollars), and this means power. This is more powerful than the sword, more powerful even than death. Azrael, you beat me once because you were an unknown. You beat me a second time because I underestimated you. But I don't fear you. In fact it is you that should fear me because this makes me unstoppable. I challenge you to one more match. This Sunday, I want you in the ring, and I want you with no holds barred. And, if you beat me a third time, I vow to never step foot in an ECW ring again. And you can take that to the bank". Brad Armstrong hits the ring. "Now, I was supposed to pick an opponent for my baby brother, Brian Armstrong tonight, but I decided that I don't want anyone hurting a hair on his head - not until I get my hands on him first". Brian X comes out. "You know Brad, I had the same thought. Most of all I don't want you to have any excuse for when I beat yo ass this Sunday. But then I thought about it a little more, and I changed my mind" Nord's music hits and out comes the Viking King. Match 2: Brad Armstrong Vs Nord, 10 mins. Brad launches himself over the top onto Nord as he approaches the ring. He lays into him with punches on the outside as Brian X joins Styles. "That wasn't supposed to happen". Brad takes the fight to Nord, but Nord takes over in the ring and starts to lay a beating on him. BX- "Save some for me, big guy. You know, Joey, don't you think it's typical that whitey over there would want me in a country whippin' match? What is it with white folk wanting to whip on us brothers?" Brad puts up a real good fight against Nord, but eventually falls to the Road to Valhalla after 7 mins. Brian X struts down to the ring and takes out of his baggy pants a leather strap. He starts to whip Brad with it until officials pull him away. An AHS highlight package airs, before Sandman and Zbyszko make their way out. Sandman says that in war their are always rules of engagement, but he and Zbyszko are gonna throw out the rule book on Sunday. Zbyszko says their opponents tonight may call themselves the Arkansas Hit Squad, but he and Sandman are the Pennsylvania Wrecking Crew, and they're gonna dish out their own brand of justice tonight. Match 3: The Arkansas Hit Squad Vs Larry Zbyszko and The Sandman. None-title match, 15 min time limit. Zbyszko starts off by outwrestling both members of the Hit Squad individually, to show he can still go. Sandman dominates with brawling to show what he brings to the table. The AHS cheat to gain the upper hand, but it's short-lived and Zbyszko and Sandman are ruling the roost. They look like they're setting up for dual piledrivers, but Simmons and Luger come out and go on the attack, bringing about the DQ after 8 mins of action. A 4-on-2 beatdown develops, but Morton and Eaton come out to even the odds, and the show ends with a wild and crazy 8 man brawl as Styles gets his last plugs in for Sunday night.

And then have Bayley turn heel on Sasha too.

ECW TV Episode 14 - 2/4/93 A video shows a recap of the Maxx Payne/Mike Shaw/Madusa angle from last week, and ends with Maxx Payne's mug shot. Styles and Mero are in the commentary position, and Styles tells us that Payne was charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, while the sexual assault investigation is still ongoing. He confirms that Payne will indeed miss the 'Extreme Easter' show coming up on the 11th. Mr Loverman hits and Shaw and Madusa saunter out in celebratory mood. Shaw has the mic. "It feels so good to see justice being served. And with that pervert, that sexual predator, behind bars where he belongs, my lady love, my Madusa - you look stunning tonight, darling - can rest easy. Payne should consider himself lucky that the police intervened when they did, because I was all set to rip him apart for putting his hands on my little sexpot. And I hope the rest of you guys take this as a warning. You can look, but never touch. Now, with that reprobate out of my hair, I can set about dominating ECW, and I'll start right now by swatting that mosquito known as Barry Horowitz". Match 1: Mike 'Sugarlips' Shaw w/Madusa Vs Barry Horowitz. 10 mins. Horowitz is game as he takes the fight to Shaw. A trip of the ankle by Madusa leads quickly to a Cuck Hold, followed by a Guaranteed Finish, giving Shaw the win in 3 mins. Brad Armstrong makes his way out somberly, in his street clothes. Styles says there was a rumour going around that Brad would be here tonight to make some kind of announcement. Brad gets the mic. "Several weeks ago I had my heart broke, when my little brother blasted me in the face with a steel belt buckle. I tried to work out why a guy that I've watched over and protected his whole life would do something like that. I tried apologising to Brian, and he spat on me and slapped me in my face. After that I was given some time away to try to come to terms with things, but I was still watching the show. I watched as Brian said that his only brother was Ron Simmons. I watched as Brian insulted me and insulted our father. And I watched last week as Brian spat on the Armstrong name, and said he now wanted to be known as Brian X. You know, wrestling in my family, it was a tradition, and it was a point of pride, and seeing my own flesh and blood turn his back on all that.. well, it didn't just break my heart, it killed my love for this business. I was turning it over in my head, and I prayed on it, but only one decision made sense to me, and that was to walk away. That was to retire from professional wrestling. Just like all the big decisions I make in life, I went to my father, and he told me.. he said.... he said 'boy, I didn't raise no quitter. Now go back to ECW and give your baby brother the whuppin' that I neglected to give him'. So that's what I'm here to do. Brian X, you challenged me to a match, well I accept. But it isn't gonna be no technical classic. I want you in a country whipping match. Both of us are gonna be tethered to a leather strap, and using that strap is gonna be just as legal as a headlock. Boy, I'm gonna whip the sass out of you, and when I'm through you'll be begging to return to the family nest". Match 2: 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton w/Ricky Morton Vs Canterbury w/Knight. 10 minute time limit. Styles says this is a none-title match, but at Extreme Easter the tag team titles will be on the line between The Arkansas Hit Squad and the team of Eaton and Morton. He puts Eaton and Morton over as the two greatest tag wrestlers in history, and says this could be the first time they win the belts as partners. Canterbury bosses things for a bit but Eaton comes back. Knight tries to get involved but Morton negates him and Eaton rolls up Canterbury for the win in 6 mins. Eaton and Morton clear the ring of the Hit Squad. Morton then encourages Eaton to leave as he has some personal business to take care of. "I just have a little business to take care of here. You know, every week I go home after competing, and I watch ECW TV. I watch it because, like you guys, I'm a fan, and also because I want to see what I'm doing well in the ring, and what I need to do better in the ring. You see, I may be a veteran, but that doesn't mean I don't still have stuff to learn. Anyway, the one thing I hear week after week when watching my matches is you, 'Magnificent' Marc Mero, running me down. Talking about how I'm a fossil from the 80s, talking about my mullet, talking about how I'm past it. First of all, yeah, I have a mullet, and it's fantastic, thank you very much. Now, you can say that the 80s was my decade, but I've had a lot of success in the 90s too. One thing is for sure, you can throw a dart at my career, and whichever day you land on, I guarantee you I achieved more greatness in that day than you have in your whole career. You wanna sit there running your mouth about me, well, how about you step out from behind that desk, get out from under Joey Styles's feet, and come down to this ring and say it to my face". Mero is saying that he has nothing to prove to anyone, and he'll compete on his own terms. Morton continues, "You know, travelling up and down this great country, I got a bit of a reputation. I had a different girl in every town. That's rock n roll, baby. Now, they weren't all winners. Hey, it can't be filet mignon every night. But I gotta say, those pretty little lips aside, you, Marc Mero, are about the ugliest woman I've ever seen". Mero sells this as a big affront to his manhood. He takes off his headset and makes his way to the ring, barking threats all the way. He's wearing slacks, dress shoes, designer shirt, a real Flair/Rock get-up. A referee runs out. Match 3: Ricky Morton Vs 'Magnificent' Marc Mero. Styles puts this over as a big deal, an impromptu match with Mero making his debut. As the ref checks Morton over Mero attacks, laying into him with punches. Mero does a little Ali shuffle, then winds up for a big haymaker. Morton ducks and hit Mero with the Rockin' Rana for the win in under a minute. Mero is incensed as Morton ducks out the ring and backs up the entranceway, puffing up his mullet to mock Mero. Another Sid Vicious video airs. We come back and Styles explains that Mero has left the arena. He also says the Country Whipping match has been signed for Extreme Easter, and next week Brad Armstrong and Brian X will choose opponents for each other. Lex Luger and Ron Simmons make their way out. RS-"We told you all that there was a war starting, and that the south was going to rise again, but not even we knew just how little resistance we were going to get. Sabu was the first to step in our way, and where is he now? Next we singled out Maximilian Payne, and we found out that he, just like all you Pennsylvanian scum bags, had no morals, and no fight." LL-"It's obvious to me, Ron, that up here in the North East of America, and especially here in ECW, there isn't one man, let alone two, who can stand up to the Southern Justice we're dishing out". Enter Sandman hits, and out comes the Sandman. Luger laughs. "Hey, Ron, do you know the Sandman? This is the guy I took the ECW title from, and then spent the next two months beating all over this crap hole which he calls his hometown. What are you out here for, Sandy? You know you ain't getting another shot at the gold." "This isn't about the belt, Luger. You beat me for the belt, and I accepted that. For now, at least. This is about the two of you coming out here for the past several weeks talking crap about ECW. How you're too good for ECW. This is about the two of you coming out here and talking a bunch of shit about my home town, and my home state. Pennsylvania is one of the great working class states in this country, and when you insult these people, my people, and this city and this state, well, now you pissed me off." LL-"Well, what are you gonna do about it? You wanna step in the ring and try us?" S-"I may look stupid, hell, I might be stupid, but even with the 6-pack I downed before coming out here, I'm not stupid enough to step in the ring with the two of you. That's why I brought some back up. I brought another native Pennsylvanian who is sick of you guys running down this state. In fact, this guy is a Pennsylvanian legend, 'the Living Legend', Larry Zbyszko". Zbyszko comes out, as Styles sells this huge. LZ-"You know, I've wrestled all over this country, and I have to say there's no place like home. When you insult the north east you insult me, and you also insult people like Bruno Sammartino, another guy from this state, a guy who I retired by the way. And nothing would give me more pleasure than giving the same treatment to you two loudmouths". Sandman and Zbyszko rush the ring, and a brawl ensues. The heels are soon outfought and they decide to retreat. Sandman has the mic again. "Now, there's a big show on the 11th, they're calling it Extreme Easter. Let's keep this simple. The two of us and the two of you. You want a war, we'll give you one". Match 4: Azrael Vs Scott Levy, Tv time remaining, 10 mins. As Azrael does his entrance, Levy attacks him from behind, socking him in the back of the head with his briefcase. He sends him into the steps and then rolls him into the ring. The ref holds him back and checks on Azrael. Azrael gets up to fight so the ref rings the bell. Levy jumps on Azrael again with boots, but Azrael powers up and destroys Levy in about 2 mins of official match time. Styles says Levy came with a plan, but the plan emphatically failed, and maybe he'll decide now to cut his losses with Azrael. Styles says the Luger/Simmons Vs Sandman/Zbyszko match has been made official to join the Armstrong Vs X and tag title matches at Extreme Easter. He says next week on ECW TV, as well as Brad Armstrong and Brian X picking opponents for each other, there's going to be a huge double main event; the AHS against Sandman and Larry Zbyszko and Luger and Simmons against Morton and Eaton.

I turned the TV on the other day and there was an, I think, Bad News Bears movie on when they were in Japan, and there was a wrestling match with Inoki. Then another time I saw one of those be a great dad commercials with Alberto Del Rio of all people. And this was like a couple of weeks ago.