[2000-09-03-ECW-Hardcore TV] Rob Van Dam & Kid Kash vs Tommy Dreamer & Jerry Lynn

[soup23]

ECW clearly positioned this to be the marquee match of round one but this was on the choreograph side of things which is never going to be anywhere close to my favorite flavor of RVD. The stuff doesn’t look bad but it also doesn’t look like it hurts very much and that they are trying their hardest to win these vacant titles. The best spot was the way that RVD went into the split legged moonsault that Hammerstein going nuts. Dreamer felt like the odd man out throughout this match but he sells all of the offense well including convulsing on the ramp after RVD’s tope con hilo. Joey says this is the wildest tag team matchup ever seen in ECW which is right up there with “Tonight is the greatest night in the history of our sport.” Dreamer works over Kash on the inside and hits some of his power moves including the Tommyhawk. RVD gives a side kick to Tommy and a Van Damniator to Lynn before the five star is hit on Dreamer. Dreamer sells himself right into position for the Van Terminator but Credible runs in and canes RVD. Gore from Rhino and Tommy actually capitalizes by hitting a piledriver. RVD sells this well popping up nearly a foot from the mat. Dreamer now goes after Rhino in the aisle but RVD is still incapacitated enough for Lynn to hit the cradle piledriver and get the win. **1/2

 

 

 

[GSR]

When you know one team has already reached the final because of the cack handed way these matches are airing it does kinda negate this first round encounter!  Anyway, let’s put that to one side and give this a whirl.  A timely placed commercial means we miss RVD’s lengthy ring entrance.  On our return Joey Styles is barely pausing for breath as he calls the action between Van Dam and Lynn.  Nice bodyscissors into a pinning attempt by RVD, only to then go into fan adulation mode.  Ah, he tags in Kash so we shouldn’t be seeing any more of that nonsense for the time being at least.  Styles was just putting over RVD and Lynn huge in his commentary, yet I think the exchanges between Kash and Lynn are far superior as they come across more natural as opposed to choreographed.  Hard open handed slap to the chest.  The hip toss is blocked, Kash lands on his feet from the monkey flip and Lynn with a deep arm drag.  Combination side slam/elbow off the middle by the Dreamer/Lynn team.  Dreamer catches Kash on the crossbody and tosses him overhead with a fallaway slam.  Drop toe hold/leg drop to the back of the neck for a two count, Kash barely getting a shoulder up.  Lynn runs into a big boot and Kash with a moonsault bodyblock.  Step through spin kick by Van Dam.  He military presses Jerry overhead before dropping him chest first to the mat.  Standing moonsault and Dreamer is in to make the save. Front first superplex by RVD on Kash onto Lynn and then this awesome switch split legged moonsault for a great near fall.  Van Dam forearms Dreamer who is on the apron, sending him sprawling to the outside and Kash with a flip dive to the floor, leap frogging over his own partner.  A springboard crossbody from Lynn takes out both and then a RVD tope con hilo takes out everyone (although you see them all stood there waiting ready to break his fall).  Styles calls this “the wildest match they’ve ever seen in ECW”; they’ve left the ring once and haven’t done any brawling, this is hardly Public Enemy vs Bruise Brothers!  Kash slips as he goes to run up the turnbuckles so Dreamer gives him a belly to back as he looks to capitalise.  The ‘Tommyhawk’, an inverted Razor’s Edge dropped into a cutter, a move I had forgotten all about, and Kash wisely rolls to the outside.  Dreamer turns around and is caught by a leaping side kick off the top.  Fonzie’s interference is thwarted by Lynn who intercepts the chair that he throws to Van Dam, however RVD ducks his shot and hits a ‘Van Daminator’.  ‘Five Star’ frog splash on Dreamer who retreats back to the corner and right into position for a ‘Van Terminator’.  Who says this is worked?  Justin Credible is out and as RVD leaps to the top rope canes him in the back.  Rhino with a gore and Dreamer takes advantage, piledriving Van Dam who bounces a good couple of feet off the mat.  Tommy the fool then spots Rhino and forgets the match to go after him.  The damage is done though, Lynn lifts a limp RVD up and hits the cradle piledriver for, if you have been paying attention, the outcome you knew was coming.