Last time I reviewed Hardcore Homecoming the 2005 Independent Wrestling ECW reunion. But that wasn't the only ECW reunion showed that sumer. The WWE witch held all the trademarks and video footage put one on as well. From what I understand Rob Van Dam had been pitching this idea for a wile and after the success of the Rise and Fall of ECW DVD Vince McMahon saw there was value in the ECW name. Now Hardcore Homecoming was all promoted online. ONS stand had the value of WWE TV. A big angel of Heels wanting to invade the show was set up. And as I said since WWE owned the rights and video the could use the name ECW and play videos as part of the show. One Night Stand took place at the Hammerstein Ballroom a venue ECW ran many times and even held there final PPV in. It also featured talent that couldn't work Hardcore Homecoming due to WWE contracts talents such as the Dudley Boys, Tommy Dreamer, and Paul Heyman. But it would also like talents such as Raven who was under a TNA contract and Terry Funk. When this event first happened it was praised as amazing. Seen as one of the best events of the year.And a year later a second One Night Stand was held that was the kickoff to the new ECW a third WWE brand that ran for several years. But now all these later how does it hold up? Was this an event so great could it only made sense to bring ECW or did IWC just give a pass because it was branded with those letters?
We open with a shot of the Hammerstein and the Fans chanting ECW ECW ECW. The old ECW intro music plays as Joey Styles walks to the ring. And boy can I tell the difference between HH and ONS since I can make out everything Joey says. Mick Foley who will be the color commentator comes out in his old Cactus Jack t-shirt. The opening video is a nice touch. It was the classic ECW theme and intro with Heyman going "EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING." As various clips from ECW played. To be honest we really didn't need Joey and Mick in the ring but I think that was a message to the fans. WWE's way of saying we are doing this right here is the guy that called all those old shows and a guy that was a part of them. We aren't sending JR and King out to do this.
Lance Storm with Dawn Marie vs Chris Jericho- Dawn Marie was pregnant at this time and you can tell but is wearing a outfit similar to what she wore in ECW. I believe WWE had actually released or were about to. This was also Lance Storm's "retirement" match as he was going to become a trainer full time. (Of course Lance wrestled on Indy for years after this) Joey puts over Lance's time in Impact Players. Jericho came out to his WWE music but was in gear like he wore in ECW. Also as noted by Joey and Mick these two had a long history with each other even wrestling each other in the first match. The two had no history in ECW I think Jericho had already left when Lance arrived but it's nice of the WWE to book this match. Starting out with an early chain wrestling exchange the fans popped but to be honest it seemed a tad off a bit slow. I think part of that had to do with the face Storm hadn't been wrestling regularly at this point. This was not a hardcore match it was kind of match you would see Jericho or Storm have in ECW lots of fast technical wrestling with counters and reversals and hard strikes. Funny note the fans started to boos when Jericho used the Walls of Jericho instead of the lion hammer. Finish came when Jason Night and Justin Credible ran in and Credible cracked Jericho with the cane. It was a a good opener and I see what they were going for the old blow the roof off the top at the start but it seemed like the match kind of got stuck in mid gear. It could have been great but it just never got back there.
In another nice touch we see Joey and Mick at a table like the ones ECW used on there PPV's again its a sign to the fans. We also see the empty balcony reserved for the Invader. Gary Wolfe in Pitbull gear introduces a video of former ECW talent that passed away. This really did come off del since they could video of the guys and there was no one showing up to go heel on Gary like that other show did.
Taijri with Sinister Minister (James Mitchell) and Mikey Whipwreck vs Little Guido with The FBI (Big Guido, Tony Mamaluke, JT Smith, and Tracy Smothers) vs Super Crazy- This match was done a lot in ECW. Joey points out this isn't like a WWE 3 way since there have to be two falls. We get some of the same exchanges Storm and Jericho used only a lot faster. Super Crazy lives up to his name hitting a moonsault off the balcony taking out the entire FBI. Eventually the match broke down with the FBI just coming into inter fear and than Minster and Mikey coming in as well. Mikey hit the whipper snapper on Guido allowing Taijri to pin him to eliminate him. Super Crazy picked up the win after hitting a moonsault on Taijri. This match was really short I am going to assume this was the one the got time cut from it for things latter on in the show and it suffered. Everything was super rushed and nothing had any real impact. Witch is to bad these guys had talent it would have been nice to see him really show off since in WWE there often just jobbers.
We get a video looking the early days of the ECW including Douglas promo from when he tossed down the NWA title. Sabu's early days, The Sandman and the Public Enemy and the canning of Tommy Dreamer by the Sandman. and the later fake out blinding ANd of course the craziness that was Terry Funk. It was well done video and fitting for a reunion show like this also the means we don't have to have everyone cut a promo about how great it is to be back.
Psichosis vs Rey Mysterio- These two had a long feud in Mexico at the start of there career. One of those funny things I have to point out Psichosis came out wearing his old mask like he wore in ECW and later WCW but took it off before the match started. Now Psichosis had actually lost his mask in a gimmick match before WCW closed and I think partially do to legal issues about the gimmick and also out of respect to the lucha tradition he doesn't wear it no matter what the appearance. Of course Rey also lost his mask in WCW but put it back on for the WWE. And the so called "Educated" ECW fans chant but the mask on.Mick botches a fact saying Rey and Psichosis were both trained by Rey's father when it's actually his Uncle. Joey corrects him on this. This was billed as Extreme Lucha but they didn't really work a lucha mask and the fans booed this. Finally Psichiosis had to hit a leg drop onto Rey who was wrapped on the guardrail to get the to cheer again. Rey got the win after the 619 and hunncanrana not the west coast pop like Joey said. This match never really got going it started off kind of plodding and with the fans crapping on it the guys started to just hit big spots. I sense both guys really tried but this point there was no way to recapture the magic they had early on in there career.
Kurt Angle and JBL led in the Smackdown invaders. Now I have heard some people say they hated the invasion stuff and just wanted it to be ECW but this angle was actually a good idea as far as I'm concerned. First it could be used to get fans that didn't see ECW to buy the show. Quick note if you want a laugh and have this DVD I recommend listening to it with JBL's special commentary. This is not JBL doing actual commentary its just him shitting on everything all night and it cracks me up. He and Orlando Jordan have some funny lines helped by the fact I think JBL was actually drinking during the show. Another highlight video airs this time documenting the middle years of ECW stuff like Raven, The rise of Taz, Shane Douglas' feud with the Pitbulls. And Jerry Lawler showing up. Joel Gernter shows with a microphone and than gets shoved around by JBL and Angle witch was a nice heat getting moment. Angle cuts a promo on the ECW fans. JBL cuts a fierce I almost want to say Cornett like promo on ECW. By this point this segment was starting to drag we really didn't need these promos since anyone that was buying the PPV had already bought it and well as I said once match got really cut down to make way for it. Also it wasn't like these promos were anything new it was the same stuff these guys had been saying for weeks.
JBL's promo get interrupted when the Injured Rob Van Dam Make his way to the ring with Bill Alfonso. RVD couldn't wrestle on this show due to his injury but he had been one of the guys pushing for the show so it was nice to see him get to appear. RVD cuts a great promo really playing to the ECW fan base. We even hear him rip WWE for limiting his vocabulary to What Ever and Cool and even saying they don't need a storyline as he looked at the invaders. Now I get RVD loved ECW and the promo was really good the problem is this promo came after two pretty short not so great matches and a long talking segment already. It would have been better to have the invaders there at the start let JBL interrupt and led that to RVD coming out. Rhino ran out and gored RVD and than the lights went out and Sabu arrived leading to the next match.
Sabu vs Rhino- Rhino had been off WWE TV for months due to a issue during that year's WrestleMania that was later led to his release. Sabu was making a return after a long layoff due to various serious medical issue that landed him in the hospital for over ninety days. Sabu was also wearing the scares from Hardcore Homecoming. This was a pure ECW style brawl and it was defiantly a much needed shot of action. Both guys got a chance to show off. Sabu hit many of his trademark spots and Rhino used his great power moves. RVD eventually got involved and even managed to pull off skateboarding a chair into Rhino's face. Sabu got the win with a leg drop through a table and a chair. So far the best match on the card. Rhino looked great her he was clearly motivated and it's no wonder why TNA picked him up after this where he would go onto have some great matches and revive his career. Sabu had to be sore as hell after Hardcore Homecoming but he still managed to do a lot.
Backstage Al Snow blames head for inviting the "Smackdown Assholes" and that leads us into some more ECW moments. Stuff like the BWO, Bam Bam and Taz, Sandman and Raven. The Brian Lee and Tommy Dreamer feud. And the moment where Taz and Sabu were finally face to face again before the first ECW PPV. When we get back we see Eric Bischoff leading in the Raw crew. Joey Styles takes a shot at Edge saying "I'm glade I didn't bring my wife." Joey and Mick claim Bischoff went of his way to kill ECW. I have feeling that is what most ECW fans believe is the truth. Again this kills the momentum as we have to watch as the Raw guys enter and climbs the stairs all the way up top Balcony where they will sit.
Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero- All I have to say about this match is RIP Eddie, Nancy, and Daniel.
Joe Gernter comes out to beg Eric Bischoff for a job and it's just not that funny of a moment. Bischoff cuts a promo on ECW now its a good promo but again why are we doing this now? The show has been sold I don't anyone is going to say I gotta be the replay because Bischoff talked.
Mike Awesome vs Masato Tanaka- These two had a long feud in Japan and brought it to ECW and even traded the ECW world title. Joey of course rips Awesome for walking out with the ECW title. Of course there is no mention of Heyman's dumb fucking booking of having Taz win the title from Awesome and job to Triple H on Smackdown. Awesome hits an amazing Suicide Dive over the top rope to the floor. Joey says "Its a shame he didn't succeed in taking his own life." And I know Joey had no way of knowing Mike would commit Suicide years later but man that creppy to hear now. Man Joey got really annoying in this match ranting about Awesome and TNN and what ever else he didn't like. I don't' know if WWE had any control over what he was saying but it sounds like this was purely Joey. Awesome and Tanaka pulled out many of there old spots including an awesome bomb through a table off the apron and the awesome splash. Tanka no sold several chair shots and hit a Tornado DDT onto a stack of chairs. One problem I notice with how this was shot was time and again the cut away from the ring to get JBL's reaction. I hate when this do this with a guy manager it's even worse for a guy that is just watching the match in the stands. Tanaka gave Awesome a DDT from the top rope through a table only to get two only to have Awesome to top rope Awesome Bomb him through the remains of the table. The finish was freaking insane after Awesome bombing Tanaka over the top robe onto a table Awesome than dives over the top rope for a splash to get the pin. If you like death matches you might enjoy this but honestly it got real relative with Awesome hitting the bomb over and over and over again. But let me say again RIP Mike Awesome.
Paul Heyman makes his first appearance of the night coming out to ringside. And this was a good time promo since you had three very intense matches back to back to back it was a good time to let the fans recover a little bit. And again like RVD you had to have Heyman on the show at some point. Say what you want about the guy there would have been an ECW the way people remember it without him. The fans chant Thank You Paul and the guy looked legit choked. Heyman actually thanks Tod Gordon, along with Ron Baffone. Baffone was the TV producer that was key in making ECW so cutting edge and thanks the fans. After than Paul starts "Shooting" on the Invaders. Sadly though why the fans were going nuts none of Paul lines were all the great for example went to JBL "You were only champion because Triple H didn't want to work Tuesdays." It was clear it was what had been approved by WWE.
The Dudley Boyz vs Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman- For the Event Sandman entered to Enter Sandman and in a very cool moment all the fans sang the song as Sandman made his entrance but since WWE didn't want to the rights outside of the one time they edit that al out leading to along awkward entrance with just muted crowd noise and an Enter Sandman knockoff as Sandman enters and the fans are clearly going nuts. This was last WWE appearance for the Dudley's since they were fired for making valid points about head writer Stephanie McMahon. And in another nice touch the Dudley's were back in there old Tie-Dye gear although they didn't wear the overalls. This was also a very fitting match to end the show on since Tommy and Sandman were among the top faces in ECW for many years and The Dudley's were the most hated team the company had. How ever before the match could get started the BWO made its way out and we got Joey doing a stupid forced laugh at how many it was. Don't get me wrong I liked Stevie and Nova and the BWO belonged on a show like this but there entrance wasn't funny at all they just walked to the ring. Stevie super kicked Sandman witch kicked off a series of run ins by Kid Kash, Axel Rotten and Balls Mahoney. The brawl ended with Kash hitting a big move to take out the BWO along with Balls and Axel.This was clearly the lets get as many guy in the show as we can and why again all these guys had a place it just killed the momentum as we had the two teams ready to go. It would have been better to do the run ins during the match.
Finally the actual match go started with Bubba and Tommy on the inside while Sandman and Devon brawled on the outside. Tommy Was the first guy to truly bleed after a street sign shot and than the getting sliced by a cheese grater. Its pretty much what you would expect from these guys at an ECW show. Tons of weapons light on logic at times. Joey Styles commentary got annoying her as he kept insisting all these guys loved each other like brothers even though its clear the Dudley were trying to play there old hated ECW persona. As Dreamer and Sandman took control Credible and Storm ran in. This allowed Francine to come in and low blow Tommy witch led to Tommy's real life wife Beulah McGillicutty to run out and get in a cat fight with Francine and for god measure Beulah also low blowed Lance. the Dreamers even hit a double DDT on the Dudleys. In one final run in Spike came down to give his big brothers some lighter fluid and a lighter so they could drive Tommy Dreamer through a flaming table which was the finish. This match was pretty good again you can't expect a Sandman or even a Tommy Dreamer match to be a mat classic. And this was the kind of match that needed to main event. It was a typical ECW main event brawling weapons, run ins not expecting that it like going to a reunion tour of an old rock band and not liking when they play there biggest hit.
Post match as Sandman called for a Beer Stone Cold Steve Austin music played and Austin made his way out and than called out the ECW locker room for a beer bash. This was meant to set up the big brawl between ECW and the WWE Invaders but it is kind of strange to see the guys that had not only wrestled but destroyed each other earlier show up side by side. Honestly I think it would been better to have The four guys in the main event get up to hug and than send out the invaders to jump them leading to the brawl. But ti felt like WWE went "If Austin is there he has to be a face and he has to talk." And again the momentum of the show ends as we have to wait for the ECW guys to come out and than wait for WWE guys to make there way down. And yes Austin worked for ECW but for a brief time and it would have been more fitting to have Paul E or Tommy call out the invaders to start the brawl. Before the brawl got started one final entrance took place as Taz came out again Taz would have been a more fitting leader of the ECW crew. Taz had also been jumped by Kurt Angle leading up to the event. Eventually Taz choked Angle out with the Taz Mission. Commentary got really annoying here as Bischoff had gotten on there and just argued with Foley and Styles and it turned into dump on Bischoff and WCW again. Eventually the ECW crew drove off the WWE guys and stood tall. Foley forced Bischoff into the ring with allowed the ECW guys to beat up on Bischoff. The Dudleys carried the broken Bischoff out of the arena and dumped him on a truck. The show closed with the ECW guys celebrating as Joey Styles yelled "ECW LIVES!"
Final Thoughts- Again why I would love to piss off the ECW fanboys and say it sucked I can't say that. The event if good for the most part and does have some rewatchabilty to it. And it is a very fun show to watch especially if you were an ECW fan or enjoy Hardcore Wrestling. But it's not the greatest show ever it wasn't even the best of 05. Several spots drag sevelry and a number of things are misbooked. The invasion angle had some promise but it didn't have to dominate as much as it did and several times it felt like we just waited as they walked and other stuff like having Austin as the leader of the ECW group at the end when people who really know ECW know Austin was there for a short period of time and left. And yeah it was a mistake to do a second One Night Stand a year later and re-start ECW. It would have been best to just leave this as the final image of ECW and let it stay in the past.
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