[2000-08-11-ECW-TNN] Yoshihiro Tajiri vs E.Z. Money

[soup23]

Fun six minute match. EZ Money is spotty but does some good counters to some signature Tajiri moves like the Tarantula with the Money in the Bank. He also shows some personality and feels like a good addition to again improve the impressive youngster roster going on in ECW at this point. Match ends with all sorts of run ins but the visual of Whipwreck coming in with the flaming board and hitting Guido with it was well done and helped established Whipwreck/Tajiri as a competent tag team heading into the tournament. **1/4

[GSR]

Tajiri drops Money with a kick to the chest and drags him over to the ropes, however before he can apply the Tarantula Chris Hamrick is around to break things up.  Still half locked in, E.Z. then counters with the ‘Money in the Bank’ for a two.  After standing moonsaults are exchanged Tajiri backdrops Money over the top rope.  He manages to land on the apron though and snaps Tajiri’s neck across it.  Slingshot somersault clothesline.  Hamrick distracts the official and E.Z. and Julio Fantastico (not Dinero yet then!) hit a double wheelbarrow suplex for another two count.  Butterfly stretch submission but Tajiri is in no mood to give this up yet.  Hamrick is back upon the apron, this time is holding a chair.  E.Z. goes to whip Tajiri into him but Tajiri with the handspring, kicking it into Hamrick’s own face.  Quality selling by Money here as their plan backfires.  A handspring elbow for Money, tornado DDT and finally after a kick to the head, he’s done.  Hot Commodity are joined by the FBI post-match in attacking Tajiri, all eventually being run off by Mikey Whipwreck who is carrying a 2x4 wrapped in a flaming rag.

Fun, albeit a very similar bout to the house show match in Kansas City at the end of June.  Great visual at the end with the flaming 2x4 and was surprised to see Guido take a shot from it, even if his upper body was well covered up.