Mike Reviews ECW Hardcore TV #123 (The Malenko/Guerrero Classic)

Happy Extreme Saturday Everyone!

Last week I chose ECW for the Stinker Review, so let’s redress the balance by taking a look at a much more highly regarded show in the company’s history in the form of the Malenko/Guerrero Classic. As the name would suggest, the show is built around Dean Malenko and Eddy Guerrero wrestling one another, as they face-off in ECW for the last time before moving on to pastures new in WCW.

I’ll post the card below, but it’s only one match so…it might not be too relevant!

https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=47297&page=3

The Malenko/Guerrero Classic episode of Hardcore TV is emanating from The Arena in Philly on the 26th of August 1995 (the show aired on 29th August 1995)

Calling the action is Joey Styles

We open with clips of Eddy Guerrero debuting against Scorpio and winning the World TV Title, which lead to Eddy and Dean Malenko fighting over the belt, with them trading victories and draws. Joey Styles narrates the package and does a great job with it. The fans at the matches seemed to really enjoy the action, which is good to see.

Joey Styles introduces the new ECW World TV Champ, Too Cold Scorpio, who would end up adding the tag belts later in the year in order to become known as “Two Gold” Scorpio. Styles reminds Scorp that Taz is still mad at Scorpio due to Scorp breaking his neck. Scorp says that Taz can come and get some if he wants some, and then says that he’s doesn’t care who wins the Malenko/Guerrero Classic later on. This was an okay segment that established that Scorp is now the Champ.

Joey Styles makes it public knowledge to the ECW Arena crowd that Eddy Guerrero and Dean Malenko are off to WCW, which the crowd is of course thrilled to hear. Styles lets us know that Eddy and Dean are going to have one more classic match where they are allowed to take it to the extreme.

The Malenko/Guerrero Classic
Two out of Three Falls
“The Shooter” Dean Malenko Vs Eddy Guerrero

Malenko, Guerrero and Chris Benoit were all leaving for WCW, so Malenko and Guerrero were booked against one another here as a way to close the book on their feud. Thankfully the ECW crowd has decided to be a bit more respectful than usual here, instead asking that the two don’t leave rather than calling them sell-outs. I didn’t really like the “you sold out” stuff in my younger days and I like it even less these days now that I’m an adult with bills and a mortgage to pay. I love ECW, but wrestlers have a smaller career window than most other industries so it’s perfectly reasonable for a wrestler to move on for more money if the opportunity arrives, especially as WCW money Vs ECW money was a considerable difference.

They work it on the mat early on, whilst the crowd chants unpleasant things about Eric Bischoff. Well, I suppose it’s only unpleasant to chant that Sleazy E likes getting pegged if he actually doesn’t like it and would be offended by the suggestion. I make no personal judgements on such a matter, whatever floats one’s boat. The wrestling here is really good, as they could probably have a good technical wrestling bout in their sleep at this stage in their rivalry. Both wrestlers trade the momentum here, with no one really working Heel or Face and working heat etc. Joey Styles is very good on commentary, with him doing a solid job of making this feel like a legitimate contest. I know some can get annoyed by Styles, but when he was able to settle into doing straight up sportscasting like he is here, he was normally very good at it.

They gradually start moving onto bigger moves after mostly sticking to counters and submission holds in the early going, with Eddy busting out both a Superplex and Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker to rapturous applause, with Dean of course taking nice bumps for all of it. Dean responds with an Aloha-Eddy, but Eddy survives that and then counters to a roll-up of his own to nab the first fall.

Eddy Guerrero 1-0 Dean Malenko (Eddy rolls up Dean)

Dean targets Eddy’s leg during the second fall, locking in some submission holds in an attempt to ground Eddy and wear down the appendage. Eddy sells that well of course, with it leading to Dean locking in the Texas Cloverleaf for the quick submission.

Eddy Guerrero 1-1 Dean Malenko (Dean gets a submission with the Texas Cloverleaf)

Dean starts “unloading the heavy artillery”, as Gorilla Monsoon, would say at the start of the third fall, throwing in things like clotheslines and running elbow strikes in an attempt to put Eddy down for three. Eddy shows resilience by continuing to kick out, but you can tell that he’s on the back-foot with a mountain to climb. Eddy manages to catch Dean with a Swinging DDT OUTTA NOWHERE, and the Brain Buster follows. Eddy tries the Frog Splash after that, and gets it, but Dean is able to kick out at two in a good near fall. Dean kicks out of a rana next, as they are just throwing bombs at one another now and the action continues to be excellent. The crowd responds fantastically to all of the big moves, as even though they predominantly favour extreme wrestling, they’ve come for a pure wrestling bout here and they’re getting what they paid to see. Because both wrestlers are leaving, no one really needs to win, so instead the third fall is a double pin, leading to the bout being a draw and both going home with a medal, like how the Charity Shield used to be until they weirdly introduced penalties to decide it.

Eddy Guerrero 2-2 Dean Malenko (Double Pin)

DRAW
RATING: ****1/2

Thoughts: I can see why this was considered a classic bout at the time. Better matches have come since, but this was great technical wrestling and the respectful crowd really added to the presentation and helped make the bout memorable. I had a blast watching it and this match deservedly has a high status when it comes to the best moments from ECW’s history

The crowd applauds both wrestlers following that, and they grab a mic to thank the fans for their support. Tommy Dreamer, Hack Myers, Todd Gordon, Paul E. Dangerously and The Pittbull’s then head out to give the two wrestlers a nice sendoff as the show comes to a close. That was a lovely way to close out the show. Eddy making a point to thank everyone on the front row personally is a great example of why he was such a gent and so heavily missed.

In Conclusion

This is one of the best episodes of Hardcore TV that ECW ever did. We got a classic wrestling match and then the normally harsh and unkind ECW crowd actually stepped up and weren’t total jerks for once. I’d call it a Christmas Miracle, but the show took place in August, so we’ll just give the ECW Arena crowd some props and move on. A true classic in every way. Even if you don’t like ECW, you’ll probably like this episode.

Recommended Show!