ECW Guilty as Charged ’99

Live from Kissimmee, FL

Airdate: January 10, 1999

Attendance: 2,600

Hosted by Joey Styles

Can Taz capture the World title? Or will Douglas escape somehow? Will Dreamer deliver some comeuppance to the evil Credible and his cronies? Will RVD retain the TV title against Storm? What happens when Tajiri and Super Crazy tangle? Is everyone psyched for some EXTREME wrestling?

Executive Producer Paul Heyman opens the show by announcing that Masato Tanaka will not face RVD tonight. Also, Jerry Lynn’s fractured pelvis hasn’t healed properly; therefore, he can’t compete either. Is there any good news, Uncle Paul? With tremendous enthusiasm, Heyman touts the wrestlers that occupy his locker room before welcoming us to the show.

Match 1: FBI (w/ Tommy Rich, Big Guido, & Sal Graziano) versus Roadkill & Danny Doring

Highlights:

Before the match truly got off the ground, Ballz Mahoney and Axl Rotten approached the ring. Since they’re the biggest stars currently on display, the Kissimmee faithful sang their theme song “Big Balls” by AC/DC. Axl took the microphone and referred to the current match as a “homosexual dance party.”

Nevertheless, he inserted Rotten Ballz into the match for an “elimination-style three-way dance.” Chaos ensued around the ring, yet Little Guido hooked a crucifix sunset flip onto Doring for 2. When Little Guido backdropped Doring over the top rope to the concrete floor, he leaped from the apron. Doring evaded him, so Little Guido tasted the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Big Red at Miller’s Ale House.

As Mahoney reversed a cross corner whip, he clotheslined Smothers. On the ramp, Axl blasted Roadkill with a chair shot to the back. Smothers dealt Mahoney a spinning heel kick but ate a superkick. Mahoney got 2. After Smothers attempted a huracanrana, Mahoney caught and countered with a powerbomb.

He clotheslined Smothers over the top rope to the concrete floor, mounted the top turnbuckle, and took out the entire offensive line of the UCF Knights. While Roadkill gave Axl a cross corner whip, he followed with an avalanche. Axl reversed an Irish whip and clotheslined Roadkill for 1. Inserting himself into the mix, Smothers fell victim to a sidewalk slam. Roadkill powerslammed Smothers, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a flying splash.

Meanwhile, Little Guido mounted the top turnbuckle and saved Smothers’ bacon. Doring fed Little Guido a G-spot Suite which resembled a Stroke followed by a Bareback to Smothers. Remember, folks, this was ECW who did NOT cater to children whatsoever. Mounting the top turnbuckle, Doring scored with a guillotine leg drop.

Doring and Roadkill executed a Hart Attack upon Little Guido, but referee John Finnegan was preoccupied by Smothers. Sneaking into the ring, Rich WALLOPED Doring with the flagpole bearing the Italian flag. FBI destroyed Doring with a double fisherman’s suplex and pinned Doring at 8:15.

Demolishing Mahoney with a double dropkick, FBI connected with a double elbow drop for 2. The Kissimmee faithful chanted “ballz,” so their hero decimated Little Guido with a belly-to-back suplex. Following tags being exchanged on both sides, Axl plowed through the FBI faster than Tony Soprano and a pound of gabagool.

All four wrestlers were in the ring, and Rotten Ballz rammed FBI together with cross corner whips. Annihilating FBI with stereo finishers, Rotten Ballz won at 10:44.

Rating: ***

Summary: Fun triple threat tag match that combined ECW insanity with old school tag team wrestling. Rotten Ballz, being the biggest team in the match, looked incredibly strong with their high-impact maneuvers.

After the match, Big Guido and Sal Graziano jump into the ring to confront Rotten Ballz. They charge but eat stereo chair shots to the head much to the delight of the Kissimmee faithful.

In a pre-taped segment, Terry Funk cuts a promo on Tommy Dreamer while running down Jake Roberts.

Match 2: Tajiri versus Super Crazy

Highlights:

Tajiri hooked a crucifix but only got 1. As Super Crazy hooked la magistral cradle, he only got 1. Tajiri leapfrogged him, but Super Crazy fed him a spinning DDT. When Tajiri unleashed a series of kicks, he bamboozled Super Crazy with a seated dropkick. Another pair of seated dropkicks by Tajiri led to a leg bar submission hold; however, Super Crazy wouldn’t throw in the towel.

After Super Crazy reversed an Irish whip, Tajiri uncorked a somersault back elbow. He connected with a baseball slide and followed with an Asai moonsault. Impressive! While he mounted the apron, Tajiri SMACKED Super Crazy with a boot to the head. Tajiri trapped him in a tarantula before Super Crazy could ultimately escape.

Scoring with a springboard dropkick, Super Crazy sent Tajiri reeling down to the concrete floor. He soared with a SWEET somersault plancha, slammed Tajiri on the concrete floor, mounted the steel railing, and launched a moonsault. GET OUT THE SPATULA!

Back in the ring, Super Crazy locked Tajiri in a surfboard and rolled with it. Tajiri countered a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker with an arm drag followed by another seated dropkick. Although Super Crazy believed he was safe on the concrete floor, Tajiri mounted the top turnbuckle and torpedoed him with a tope. He dealt Super Crazy a spinning heel kick and got 2. Securing another la magistral cradle, Super Crazy got 2. Tajiri attempted one of his own and got 2.

Having escaped a release German suplex, Tajiri succumbed to a moonsault press for 2. Super Crazy dropkicked him to the floor and flew with a corkscrew plancha. Outstanding! Mounting the top turnbuckle, Super Crazy exploded with a missile dropkick.

He planted Tajiri with a tornado DDT, mounted the second turnbuckle, and obliterated him with a flying inverted DDT for 2. Countering a powerbomb with a DDT, Tajiri evaded Super Crazy’s attempt at a corkscrew maneuver. He hit another seated dropkick, mounted the top turnbuckle, but got caught. With Super Crazy alongside him on the top turnbuckle, Tajiri locked a sunset flip and got 2.

He hoisted Super Crazy atop the top turnbuckle and unfurled a super huracanrana. On the other hand, Super Crazy used momentum to land on top for 2. He destroyed Tajiri with a Tiger bomb for another 2. Rebounding, Tajiri delivered his own Tiger bomb followed by a rolling cradle for 2. He swung Super Crazy around, snared him with a dragon suplex, and got the pin at 11:37.

Rating: ****

Summary: Spectacular moveset by both wrestlers as they not only hit their spots but countered them as well. The Kissimmee faithful were with them step for step, and that’s the sign of good storytelling.

ECW on tour!

1. 01/15 – Trenton, NJ

2. 01/16 – Philadelphia, PA

3. 01/21 – Grand Rapids, MI

4. 01/22 – Lansing, MI

5. 01/23 – Detroit, MI

6. 01/28 – Revere, MA

7. 01/29 – Worcester, MA

8. 01/30 – Fall River, MA

9. 02/04 – Raleigh, NC

10. 02/05 – Columbia, SC

11. 02/06 – Concord, NC

12. 02/11 – Freeport, NY

13. 02/12 – Queens, NY

14. 02/13 – Poughkeepsie, NY

Prior to the next match, former referee now “Judge” Jeff Jones approaches the ring and charges Kronus with assault due to his 450 splash upon him in Lebanon, PA. Jones punishes him with an executioner. Who will it be? Before we find out, Kronus steals the microphone and dares Jones to bring him out.

Match 3: John Kronus versus ???

Highlights:

It’s Sid! Last seen, Sid was in the WWF on RAW on June 9, 1997. Sid grabbed Kronus by the throat and launched him over the top rope through a table onto the concrete floor. When he joined Kronus, Sid clobbered him with a steel chair. They returned to the ring, and Sid powerbombed Kronus much to the delight of the Kissimmee faithful. 1-2-3. Sid won at 1:32.

Rating: *

Summary: Was there any doubt that Kronus wouldn’t survive the onslaught that is Sid?

Video airs featuring the feud between Douglas and Taz.

The Dudley Boyz approach the ring, and Bubba Ray cuts a live promo on the ramp. As D-Von grabs the microphone, he hypes Joel Gertner up. Gertner makes crude Disney jokes before making introductions. Next, Bubba Ray calls out “anybody in the back,” and New Jack answers alongside Spike.

Match 4: Dudley Boyz versus New Jack & Spike Dudley

Highlights:

Weapons galore littered the ring, and Spike provided Bubba Ray with a free pass WAY DOWNTOWN. As Spike climbed up the turnbuckles, he dealt Bubba Ray a huracanrana. He caromed a foreign object off Bubba’s skull and got 2. When Bubba Ray reversed an Irish whip, he smashed Spike’s skull with a foreign object.

In the meantime, D-Von and New Jack brawled on the concrete floor. Bubba Ray gorilla-pressed Spike before launching him directly among the Kissimmee faithful. After he retrieved Spike from one section, Bubba Ray gorilla-pressed him again on the ramp prior to vaulting him into a different section.

New Jack gift-wrapped some steel railing upon D-Von, and Spike clobbered Bubba Ray with a foreign object. While Spike and New Jack missed the Dudley Boyz with guitar shots, Big Dick entered the ring and ate one to ZERO effect. New Jack hammered him with a different foreign object that sent Big Dick crashing to the mat.

From behind, the Dudley Boyz returned to the ring and WHACKED both New Jack and Spike with steel chairs. Bubba Ray mounted the second turnbuckle, and D-Von hoisted Spike atop his shoulders. With reckless abandon, Bubba Ray liquefied Spike with a Bubba bomb. New Jack crowned both Dudley Boyz until D-Von grabbed the weapon.

Unfortunately for the Dudley Boyz, heel miscommunication ensued. The Dudley Boyz quickly recovered and demolished New Jack with a 3-D on the ramp. Back in the ring, Spike split Big Dick’s uprights and stymied him with an Acid Drop. D-Von received the same treatment, and Spike got 2. Climbing back into the ring, Bubba inadvertently splashed D-Von.

Spike kicked Bubba Ray where the sun didn’t shine and fed him an Acid Drop. Trying to make the save, Big Dick mistakenly nailed Bubba Ray. Spike attempted another Acid Drop on Big Dick but got thrown halfway to Tampa. Planting Spike with 3-D, the Dudley Boyz pinned him at 10:06.

Rating: *

Summary: The Dudley Boyz stand at the top of the mountain of tag teams in ECW. Match was absolute garbage, but YMMV.

Following the match, the Dudley Boyz annihilate New Jack, and D-Von cuts a promo on him. Further destruction continues as Bubba Ray lists all the Dudley Boyz’ accolades while swearing profusely. If there’s one team they need to beat, it’s Public Enemy, so Bubba challenges them to a match on 1/16 at the ECW Arena.

POINT OF ORDER: Nothing makes me want to buy a PPV more than hyping what will ultimately end up on free TV.

Video airs featuring RVD to the ballad of “Walk” by Pantera.

Prior to the next match, Storm grabs the microphone and challenges RVD.

Match 5 for the ECW World TV title: “Mr. Monday Night” Rob Van Dam (champion w/ Bill Alfonso) versus Lance Storm (w/ Tammy Lynn Bytch)

Highlights:

For those curious, RVD won the TV title by defeating Bam Bam Bigelow back in April. For those unaware, RVD’s entrance music was “Walk” by Pantera, and the ENTIRE ARENA sang along. Eat your heart out, Cody Rhodes.

In pure ECW fan spirit, the Kissimmee faithful chanted “she’s a crack whore” at Bytch. RVD hooked a somersault rollup and got 1 while they switched to a more suitable chant of “show your tits.”

When RVD reversed a cross corner whip, he dealt Storm a somersault monkey flip. He connected with a dropkick and got 2. As Storm reversed an Irish whip, he slid underneath RVD to hook a single-leg crab. Alfonso stormed through the ring in an effort to maul Bytch, but Storm released the hold and restrained him.

After RVD soared with a springboard leg drop, both wrestlers spilled to the concrete floor. Storm reversed an Irish whip and sent RVD back-first into the steel railing. While RVD escaped a fireman’s carry, he hung Storm out to dry on the steel railing. He mounted the apron and launched another flying leg drop to Storm.

Upon breaking the count, RVD returned to ringside and made Storm HIT THE POLE. Back in the ring, RVD hooked a double underhook pancake and got 2. Storm rebounded with a leap frog and superkick for 2.

Dealing RVD a jawbreaker, Storm gave him a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline. He unloaded a back elbow and dropkick in the corner stymying RVD.

Thwarting a springboard maneuver, Storm dropkicked RVD sending him directly into a mouthful of steel railing. It must have tasted like the 5 o’clock burger at the Salty Rim. He fed RVD a baseball slide that catapulted him into the front row. Joining RVD, Storm got reversed on an Irish whip and hit the steel railing back-first.

RVD mounted the steel railing and caught Storm with a somersault plancha. Countering a slam attempt, Storm planted RVD with an inverted DDT on the concrete floor. GET OUT THE SPATULA!

Scraping himself up off the concrete floor, RVD attempted to mount the steel railing again. Instead, Storm dropkicked him sending RVD reeling back amongst the Kissimmee faithful. With RVD standing in what would have been the front row, Storm flew from the ring to him with a massive springboard cross body block. Impressive!

RVD rebounded by mounting the top turnbuckle, but Storm caught, joined, and crotched him. Escaping a belly-to-back superplex, RVD landed on his feet and delivered a corkscrew leg drop. He trapped Storm in La Tapatia in a magnificent visual. Releasing the hold, RVD decimated Storm with Rolling Thunder but only got 2.

He gave Storm a cross corner whip, yet Storm leaped to the second turnbuckle and blasted him with a flying back elbow for 2. Giving RVD a cross corner whip, he floored RVD with a handspring clothesline. Nifty! Alfonso tossed RVD a steel chair, and RVD immediately tossed it to Storm. Ducking a Van Daminator, Storm CROWNED him with the chair.

Storm mindlessly picked up the chair, so RVD destroyed him with a Van Daminator. Retrieving the fallen Storm from the concrete floor, RVD got outfoxed by Storm’s psychological warfare due to Storm’s inside cradle for 2. RVD ducked a leg lariat and flattened Storm with one of his own.

Receiving the chair from Alfonso again, RVD once again hurled it over to Storm. RVD attempted Van Daminator #3, but referee John Finnegan got caught in the crossfire. Trading the chair with RVD, Storm bamboozled him with a Storminator. He regrettably could only earn a false pin due to Finnegan’s being OUT COLD.

With Storm hoisting RVD atop the top turnbuckle, Alfonso tried to whack him with the chair. Storm prevented the attack and stole the chair from him. Concurrently, RVD shot a missile dropkick that sent the chair face-first into Storm. Can RVD retain? 1-2-NO!

He clotheslined Storm, leaped to the top turnbuckle, but WHIFFED on a ***** frog splash. Countering a powerbomb with a huracanrana, RVD ultimately snared Storm with a German suplex with a bridge. 1-2-3. RVD retained at approximately 20:00.

Rating: ****

Summary: Remarkable fast-paced action by both wrestlers as RVD needed an additional weapon outside his entire arsenal to achieve victory.

Get your ECW Merchandise Catalog NOW!

Check out ecwwrestling.com!

ICYMI the ECW tour is shown again. What else would people be watching when they PAID for this show?

Video airs featuring the feud between Dreamer and Credible.

Match 6 (stairway to hell): Tommy Dreamer versus Justin Credible (w/ Jason, Jazz, & Nicole Bass)

Highlights:

Dreamer gave Credible a cross corner whip and countered a float-over with a trip WAY DOWNTOWN. As he dealt Credible a spinebuster, Dreamer unleashed a Cactus clothesline sending both wrestlers to the concrete floor. Credible reversed an Irish whip sending Dreamer back-first into the steel railing. When he sent Dreamer back-first into the steel railing again, Credible charged but ate boot.

Dreamer returned the favor by shooting Credible back-first into the steel railing and made him taste it. It must have tasted like the Gimme at Windmill. After Dreamer grabbed a steel chair, Credible made him pay with an inverted DDT onto it. The match segued to the ramp where Credible dealt Dreamer a drop toe hold onto a chair.

While the Kissimmee faithful questioned Bass’ gender identification, their non-binary nemesis knocked Dreamer senseless. Back in the ring, Dreamer blocked an Irish whip and fed Credible a side-Russian leg sweep. He rammed Credible face-first into the chair, gave him a cross corner whip, caught him mid-float-over, and unloaded a Dreamer driver.

Upon retrieving the ladder, Dreamer evaded a baseball slide from Credible, and a baseball slide from Jason into the ladder sent Credible reeling into the front row. Dreamer set up the ladder between the apron and steel railing, located a cookie sheet, and blasted Credible right between the eyes with it.Rebounding with a baseball slide, Credible found himself atop Dreamer’s shoulders before eating some ladder.

Dreamer set up the ladder in the corner and catapulted Credible into it. With the ladder flat on the mat, Dreamer powerslammed him onto it. He mounted the second rope, walked midway across it, but missed an elbow drop hitting the ladder. Positioning Dreamer’s injured arm inside the ladder, Credible whacked the ladder SQUISHING Dreamer’s arm. OUCH!

Credible set up the ladder in the corner, but Dreamer reversed another cross corner whip sending Credible flying not only into the ladder but also over the top rope to the concrete floor. Nailing Dreamer on the apron, Credible suplexed him down to the concrete floor. He hoisted Dreamer atop the top turnbuckle, joined, but Dreamer blocked a superplex attempt.

Since Credible got exiled down to the mat, Bass distracted referee Jim Molineaux. That enabled Jason to join Dreamer atop the top turnbuckle only to receive the same treatment as Credible. Attempting a double DDT, Dreamer must’ve renewed his passport because Jazz transported him WAY DOWNTOWN. Jazz suplexed him, but Dreamer grabbed her in anger.

Before Dreamer could deliver a Beulah special, Jason wiped him out with a lariat. Credible repositioned the ladder, attempted Sweet Shin Music, but crotched himself on the ring post instead. Playing tug-o-war against Bass with Credible led to another crotching. Needless to say but Credible’s late-night Sunday night plans have been REVOKED. Dreamer dumped Credible with a Spicoli driver and victimized him playing see-saw with the ladder.

Setting up the ladder in the middle of the ring, Dreamer climbed halfway up before Credible yanked him down to the mat. Jason tossed a chair to Credible who set it atop the top turnbuckle. Disassembling the ladder, Credible placed Dreamer atop it and deposited him through a table onto the concrete floor with it. Innovative!

Credible climbed the ladder, but Dreamer halted his progress and vaulted him face-first into the chair atop the top turnbuckle. Shifting the ladder atop the second turnbuckle, Dreamer gave Credible a cross corner whip into it. Dreamer attempted a DDT, but Credible countered by ramming him back-first into the ladder.

Giving Dreamer a HARD cross corner whip, Credible whipped him again into the ladder and plastered him with a swinging DDT. He placed Dreamer head-first into the ladder and steamrolled it into the top turnbuckle causing Dreamer to become BUSTED OPEN. Retrieving a second ladder, Credible set it up in the ring, but Dreamer brought the first ladder in with him and set it side-by-side.

They each climbed a ladder, traded fisticuffs, and Dreamer demolished Credible with a flying Dreamer Cutter down to the mat. Stunning! Climbing the ladder, Dreamer retrieved the Singapore cane, jumped from the ladder, and planted Credible with a leaping DDT. He tied Credible up in the ropes, grabbed the Singapore cane, but Terry Funk intervened with an aluminum trash can shot to the head.

Taking the Singapore cane, Credible WHACKED Dreamer with it. He connected with That’s Incredible upon the ladder and pinned Dreamer at 18:45.

Rating: ***

Summary: The rocket push for Credible continues as Dreamer cannot overcome his latest rival. Of course, that’s partly due to his longtime mentor’s involvement, but…

Afterward, Funk badmouths Dreamer before creaming the BEJEEZUS out of him with the trash can.

Backstage, Stephen Prazak (who?) interviews Taz who dismisses him. Taz cuts a promo on Douglas as only he can.

Elsewhere backstage, Douglas along with Francine sit comfortably in a dressing room. Douglas tells Sid to FUCK OFF albeit in cleaner language than I’d anticipated. As he turns his attention to Taz, Douglas promises to keep his title by claiming “It’s my belt!”

Match 7 for the ECW World title: The “Franchise” Shane Douglas (champion w/ Francine) versus Taz

Highlights:

Taz reversed a cross corner whip but ate boot on his follow-through. When he dealt Douglas a head-and-arm suplex, Taz got manhandled in the corner. He reversed a cross corner whip, caught Douglas mid-float-over, and hammered him with a spinebuster. As he clotheslined Douglas, Taz joined him on the concrete floor and pounded some flesh.

Douglas reversed an Irish whip sending Taz back-first into the steel railing. With Taz stuck in the front row, Douglas mounted the steel railing and dove onto him much to the delight of the Kissimmee faithful. They brawled amongst the Kissimmee faithful before Douglas blocked a suplex. After Douglas charged, Taz backdropped him into the cheap seats.

They climbed into the press box, and Taz rammed Douglas face-first into the edifice. While Douglas was BUSTED OPEN, he smashed Taz with a chair. The brawl continued throughout the arena while Douglas caromed Taz off the stationary iron railing. Suplexing Douglas over said railing, an also BUSTED OPEN Taz joined but got shuffled off the platform.

They returned to ringside, and Douglas placed a table in the ring. Upon setting the table up in the corner, Douglas hammered Taz who welcomed the punishment. Douglas reversed a cross corner whip, so Taz steamrolled directly into the table. Will Douglas retain? 1-2-NO! He fed Taz an inverted rolling neck snap, exited the ring, and located another table.

Carrying the table into the ring, Douglas positioned it in an adjacent corner to the previously demolished one. Taz halted a cross corner whip, unfurled a Taz-plex through the table, and got 2. Suddenly, the lights flickered, pyro ignited, and Sabu arrived on the scene. He sprinted toward the ring and scored with a springboard double clothesline. Beating up both wrestlers, Sabu tossed them both down to the concrete floor.

He set up a chair and connected with a double springboard Asai moonsault. Amazing! On a mission, Sabu placed Douglas atop a table laying between the apron and steel railing. He launched a double springboard leg drop that put both he and Douglas through the table onto the concrete floor.

Smashing Taz with a chair, Sabu set up a table in the ring, hoisted Taz atop it, mounted the top turnbuckle, and soared with a corkscrew splash onto Taz through the table. Sabu left, and Douglas covered Taz. 1-2-NO! Abruptly, Sunny waltzed into the ring, and a catfight ensued with Francine. Chris Candido separated them until Francine speared Sunny.

Once the women were removed, Candido clobbered Douglas. Swerve! Taz took advantage and flattened Douglas with a T-bone suplex. Despondent, Douglas couldn’t believe what just happened. Taz, noticing Douglas’ distracted behavior, applied the katahajime to him. Tring to escape, Douglas implemented his trick knee, but Taz reapplied the hold. Taz took Douglas down to the mat, and Douglas passed out at 22:16. WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating: **

Summary: Typical Monday Night War-era style brawl with run-ins galore, a swerve, a catfight, and a title change. If this is your cup of tea, enjoy.

Conclusion: From an ECW standpoint, this was an extremely entertaining show with Taz finally climbing the mountain to become THE MAN. Although the Stairway to Hell match was a solid attempt at getting Credible over as a legitimate contender, both the RVD-Storm and Tajiri-Super Crazy matches were tremendous and warrant your attention.

In other matches, Sid made his ECW debut by annihilating Kronus. The Dudley Boyz made mincemeat out of Spike and New Jack, and Rotten Ballz won a very entertaining opener.

POINT OF ORDER: Within a span of two weeks, the World title has changed hands in all three major promotions. Mankind won the WWF title, Hollywood Hogan regained the WCW World title, and Taz claimed the ECW World title.

Would RSG recommend it? You’ve come this far reading an ECW reflection. If you’re disgusted, then bugger off to read the rest of the Monday Night War; however, if you’re curious or fascinated, seek out a copy wherever you can find it. Be careful, or you’ll end up in front of a judge.

Buyrate: 0.24

Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 01-11-99!

Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202). Also check out all my reflections at rockstargary.com including the Monday Night War, WCCW, Mid-South, AWA, WCW Thunder, WWF HeAT, and Herb Abrams’ UWF!