topropepodcast

I get the feeling that this Hogan is turning heel. He seems a little too artificially good, even through the scope of Japan, Honor, Strong Style and Fighting Spirit and all that jazz.

I think Kota gets upset in the semis, and the final is Metallik and TJP, with them both coming to Raw.

I just wish the crowd was a little bit more excited for this. Sure, there was some noise, but it felt like it was missing the atmosphere to truly be this fucking epic classic war they were going for.

A video package airs, focusing on Tommy Dreamer and Raven’s feud, starting in January, and focusing on Dreamer never having pinned Raven. Some of the things focused on are the introduction of Beulah McGillicutty and Cactus Jack’s recent betrayal of Dreamer. It cuts to an interview of Raven, who’s off in a secluded part of the arena with Cactus Jack and Beulah McGillicutty behind him. Raven: Tommy, you seem to feel that I only exist to bring you pain and suffering, and you might be right. Tommy, before the night is over, you will feel my pain. You will finally understand the full levity of your sins, and you will atone. Tommy, your pride blinds you. I could set yourself free. Free yourself of your pride and submit to Raven. Quoth the Raven, Nevermore. The camera cuts to Dreamer, in front of an ECW banner. Tommy Dreamer: I’m not surprised that you have a partner tonight, Raven, in that lap dog Cactus. I have a partner. And I think he’ll be a natural fit. You can quoth all you want, but tonight, Raven, the pain you should worry about is to your (censored) head when I drive it through a chair. The ECW Opening, set to “Thunderkiss ‘65” by White Zombie plays, and then we cut to Joey Styles, who’s high up in the Eagle’s Nest of the ECW Arena. Joey Styles: If you missed ECW Genesis, live at the ECW Arena, then I hope you were in the hospital or in jail, because this is a night ECW fans will be talking about for a long, long time! On tonight’s show, we go back to that fateful night at the ECW Arena, and we will see one of the newest signings to ECW, who was a Big 8 Heavyweight Champion at the University of Nebraska, Gary Albright, is going to take on “The Shah” Hack Myers. This is a first round match in the ECW World Television Title Tournament. And then, in a match you won’t believe, Raven and Tommy Dreamer face off in a Dream Partners match for the ECW World Tag Team Titles! Raven has picked Cactus Jack as his partner. Who will Dreamer pick? Let’s go straight to the action! Hack Myers is already in the ring. “March of the Pigs” by Nine Inch Nails plays and out comes Gary Albright. GARY ALBRIGHT vs. HACK MYERS I’m sure Hack meant well when signing up for this tournament, but I don’t think he realized that he would be face to face with 350 pounds of bad news in Gary Albright. Albright probably could have won this match in three minutes, but you could tell there was a certain mean streak, a certain sadistic nature that had Albright extend the match, and after 8 minutes of pain, the referee finally called for the bell. Albright hit a snap German Suplex and then locked on the STF. Myers was out, just not moving, and the referee called for the bell. Joey Styles is backstage. Joey Styles: We’re going to go to our main event for tonight’s show. New ECW World Tag Team Champions were crowned in this Dream Partners match between Raven and Tommy Dreamer. You won’t believe what happens. Let’s get to the ring! “Come Out and Play” by the Offspring brings out Raven and Cactus Jack, along with the lovely Beulah. Raven sits in his trademark corner while waiting on his opponents. “Even Flow” by Pearl Jam plays and here comes Tommy Dreamer. He doesn’t get in the ring, but rather, waits in the aisle. “Give Me Back My Bullets” by Lynyrd Skynyrd starts over the sound system, and here comes… OH MY GOD, his partner is “The American Nightmare” Dustin Rhodes! The Grandson of a Plumber is in ECW! RAVEN and CACTUS JACK vs. TOMMY DREAMER and DUSTIN RHODES This was a brawl that just really got some juices going, as every man involved got bloody fighting all over 2300 Swanson. Dreamer with a piledriver outside of the ring, hitting Raven. Raven with a DDT through a stop sign onto Rhodes. When it all appeared like Dreamer and Rhodes were going to win, Dreamer, bloody, beaten, and bruised, had Raven in a similar physical situation and down in the middle of the ring. He goes to cover Raven, and Beulah comes into the ring and pulls him off! She just saved the match for Raven and Jack! Dreamer, his eyes wide in anger, grabs her by the head, but just as this happens, the lights in the ECW Arena turn off! They come back on, and OH MY GOD, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko are standing in the middle of the ring! Those guys just walked out of the company last week! Benoit has a chair, and just levels Tommy Dreamer! He goes to cover him, but referee Jim Molineaux refuses to count the pin, after which Malenko just lays out the ref with a strong right hand! Benoit goes to cover again, and… here comes Fonzie! Bill Alfonso is in the ring! He counts, 1, 2, and Dreamer kicked out somehow! Benoit grabs Dreamer, hits a Dragon Suplex, and as Malenko fights off Raven and Cactus, this gets the three! Benoit and Malenko, who weren’t even in this match, are the new ECW World Tag Team Champions! What compelled Fonzie to get involved? What the hell is going on here!?

I have a feeling it is just clips but I'd love to be proven wrong and even clips are better than what we had before.

I know he was punted on during the draft, but is RVD available to sign?

ECW has TV tapings "tomorrow" but the first shows from them won't be until next week.

Whoops. Will be corrected. Point still stands ☺️

ECW Owner Paul Heyman was on WMMR Rock 93 in Philadelphia today, talking about the upcoming ECW Genesis event. Ed Sciaky: 93.3 WMMR, and I'm here with ECW's own Paul E. Dangerously, talking this Saturday night down at the ECW Arena, 2300 South Swanson St. Paul, how are you? Heyman: I'm good, Ed. Thank you. Sciaky: Lots of news in the world of wrestling right now, without mincing words, you guys were kind of raided in recent weeks by several other wrestling companies. Do you care to comment on that? Heyman: To paraphrase Mark Twain, Ed, rumors of our demise are greatly exaggerated. It is true that a lot of lower card talent took an extra twenty bucks to go play in Los Angeles or Louisville. Some took offers in Japan, and some are trying up in New York or down in Eric Bischoff's geriatrics club. Do you know what happens when an exodus like that happens? Opportunity. You're going to see some wrestlers on Saturday, some who you've seen before, in Atlanta, in New York, in ECW previously. Some you've never seen before. I'm really excited about the new talent. We've got these kids coming up from Mexico. I went down to Tijuana a few weeks ago to scout talent, and while I was there looking at Rey Misterio Jr. and Psicosis, who stole the show a few months ago at the Super J-Cup in Japan... there were these other talents that just jumped out at me. And it got so extreme at this show, I was looking out for my safety. Have you ever been in a lucha riot Ed? Sciaky: No, Paul, I can't say that I have. Heyman: It's not fun, Ed. It's damn scary is what it is! Sciaky: You've recently had some shots taken at you by Ian Rotten, who's moved out west and started up Revolution Pro Wrestling. Care to comment? Heyman: To truly give my thoughts on Ian Rotten would get you and your whole station thrown off the air. Rotten is a cockroach who worked for me maybe a dozen times this year. When you thought about ECW, Ian would be, when it comes to importance to the company, somewhere along the lines of Don E. Allen and the Broadstreet Bully. I can understand running scared, running out to Los Angeles, and trying to play promoter, because Ian flat out could not keep up with the talent that we're bringing to ECW. He can do one thing. He can bleed like a stuck pig. He was paid like someone who can do exactly one thing. ECW has for a long time been about being at a show where you can see the best wrestlers in the world and the hardest hits, being truly extreme, and we're going to show you exactly what we're all about Saturday! Sciaky: Thank you Paul. Don't miss the big show at the ECW Arena this coming Saturday!

Rather than deaths, I feel like we should write them off the show as a retirement.

((the following clip was inserted into the August 26, 1995 episode of Hardcore TV)) Joey Styles stands in front of an ECW banner. Paul E.: A genesis. A new beginning. That's what you deserve, and that's exactly what you will get. This upcoming Saturday, September 2nd, at the ECW Arena in beautiful downtown South Philly. We're going to kick things off with a match to award our vacant ECW World Tag Team Titles, as one half of the former champions, Raven, will face Tommy Dreamer in a Dream Partners match! We're also going to see some of the hottest lucha libre action Mexico has to offer, as Rey Misterio Jr. teams up with the Youth Warrior, Juventud Guerrera to face Psicosis and Dr. Wagner Jr.! We'll have three first round matches in the ECW World Television Title tournament, as former heavyweight for the University of Nebraska Gary Albright takes on The Shah, Hack Myers, and one of the bloodiest fighters to come out of Puerto Rico, free of his cartoon character, TNT, perhaps better known as Savio Vega, takes on "The Outlaw" Joel Deaton! Grizzled veteran "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton will take on one of the best European style wrestlers on this planet today, Dave Taylor! The hottest tag team out of Japan, five time Asian Tag Team Champions The Can-Am Express will be in action to take on The Dudley Boys, Dances With Dudley and Dudley Dudley! And a former ECW World Champion will be on-hand to call out the current ECW World Heavyweight Champion, The Sandman! It's a night you'll never forget, ECW Genesis, live from the ECW Arena! And yes, the TV Cameras will be there!

What are the odds this is the DVD Meltzer talked about a few weeks ago?

I'm sure I'm not the only one, but the draft feels like it's come to a screeching halt. I feel like there has to be a way to get through these last few rounds at a quicker pace.

ECW will select El Vampiro Canadiense.

ECW selects Don Callis.

ECW selects Gary Albright.

ECW selects Beulah McGillicutty

ECW selects TNT, aka Savio Vega.

I'm definitely trying to pivot a little. I'm thinking more brawling along the lines of mid 80s Crockett and less... Exploding Ring Death Match.

ECW selects David Taylor.

ECW selects Bill Alphonso.

ADL, what days are you thinking about running the TV tapings?

I think to keep it real time, we'd have to use a Google Doc.

AJPW took Barbarian a few rounds ago.

Probably by giving Roman a clean non-title win, Rusev will go over Sunday. Then they can do a 1-1 without a title change. It felt like it was really close to being great and then the last couple of minutes just picked it up a notch.