They Wrestled in ECW?

An avid wrestling fan all my life I grew up on the WWF, JCP/WCW and any other wrestling I could find.  Of course when ECW came to prominence I watches as much of that as I could.  I've always loved ECW and as much of it as I watched there are some guys that I'm surprised to learn competed inside and ECW ring, even if it was for only one appearance.

In this post I'm going to take a look at a few of those wrestlers but I'm going to focus on the pre pay-per-view years.

Kerry Von Erich
January 23, 1993 Philadelphia, PA
wrestled Salvatore Bellomo to a double DQ

Back when it was still called Eastern Championship Wrestling, the Modern Day Warrior appeared a show entitled "Battle of the Belts."  His appearance was as the mystery wrestler of Woman and going by the name Woman's Choice he came out in a black mask, complete in his normal ring attire with tasseled boots and his ring jacket with Kerry on the back.   You can watch it here:

Part 1     Part 2

Also on the card Davey Boy Smith wrestling The Masked Superstar and the main event was a "I Quit, Texas Death Match" pitting Terry Funk against "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert.  This show took place at the Radisson Hotel.

"Enforcer" Arn Anderson & "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton
May 14, 1994 Philadelphia, PA
Bobby Eaton & Sabu defeated Terry Funk & Arn Anderson

Now fully extreme the aptly named "When World's Collide" featured two WCW contracted talent in Eaton and Anderson appear in the main event on opposing sides.  While this was both men's only in ring competition Eaton had done a run in on an ECW show as part of the build towards this match.

Marty Jannetty
February - July 1995 & September 27, 1997

In 1995 Jannetty made a dozen appearances for the promotion up and down the east coast taking on the likes of Shane Douglas, Too Cold Scorpio, The Sandman and others.  He also made a single house show appearance teaming with The Vampire Warriro (Gangrel) losing to Al Snow & Roadkill.  Maybe other were familiar with Jannetty being in ECW but I was not and was truly surprised to learn that he did considering the number of shows he wrestled on. 

Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart
1992, 1993, & 1995

The Anvil wrestled six times in ECW when it was known as Eastern Championship Wrestling twice in 1992 and once in 1993 and then in the land of the Extreme three times in 1995.  In 1992 he was defeated by and defeated Salvatore Bellomo, in 1993 he wrestle the Sandman to a double DQ at November to Remember, and in 1995 he wrestled Marty Jannetty twice and Ron Simmons once.

Tully Blanchard
1995
 

In 1995 Blanchard traveled to Philadelphia on three consecutive months to wrestle the ECW World Champion Shane Douglas, twice at famous ECW Arena and once at a catholic high school.  January 7th saw them wrestled to a time limit draw, on February 4th at Double Tables Douglas pinned Blanchard in 9:26, and on March 3rd Douglas retained in about twenty one in a half minutes. 

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

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WCW Capital Combat 1990

I host a wrestling podcast on the Nerdy Legion Network called Podcast of 1,000 Holds.  Recently my co-host Aaron and I decided to watch a Pay-Per-View to discuss along with the second, quarter, and semi finals rounds of the Mae Young Classic.  We randomly selected WCW's Capital Combat talk about some bad luck.

Tony Schiavone welcomes us to the event

Jim Ross and Bob Caudle called the action at ringside.  I can't say enough how much I love listening to Bob Caudle call the action.  To me he was the voice of NWA back then.

Gary Michael Capetta handled the ring announcing duties.  Capetta truly has a unique voice and I always associate him with that time frame of wrestling in the NWA/WCW.

Six Man Tag
The Roadwarriors: Hawk & Animal & Norman the Lunatic defeated Kevin Sullivan, Cactus Jack, & Bam Bam Bigelow with "The Big Kahuna" Sir Oliver Humperdink in 9:38 

Warriors come out on the backs of motorcycles while Norman comes out on a scooter.  I wonder if the Warriors was just as confused that they had to team with Norman as I was that they were.  I remember Bigelow being in JCP/WCW in 1988 for a short time, but I don't recall this run here in 1990.  It appears he wrestled three matches in 1990 in WCW April thru June.

Cactus took a wicked beating from Hawk including being through over the guardrail and having the wooden stairs thrown on him.  In an impressive show of strength Bigelow overhead suplex the 400lb Norman.  Hawk pinned Sullivan after a clothesline off the top rope.

"Mean" Marc with Theodore R. Long pinned Johnny Ace in 10:41 seconds 

It's weird seeing the Undertaker with no tattoos.  This match wasn't anything special.  Finish came when Marc dropped an impressive elbow drop off the top rope after taking two steps down the rope.  This move registered an unbelievable 8.2 on the slam-o-meter!

Gordon Solie lowers himself and does a backstage segment looking for Robocop and talking about the Sting and his little Stingers.

Tony Schiavone talks to the Rock N' Roll Express and their upcoming Corporal Punishment match.

Samoan Swat Team: Fatu & The Samoan Savage defeated Tommy "Wildfire" Rich & Captain Mike Rotunda in 17:54

As and kid and even now I just love the name The SST.  I was actually disappointed to find out that, that wasn't their name that it stood for something.  Savage is Sam Fatu better known as The Tonga Kid or Tama of the Islanders.

As good as Rich and Rotunda are individually there is no way they should win this match as the SST are not only a team but family and an established team should always beat two random guys thrown together.

At one point Rotunda was caught in a front face lock, Randy Anderson checked his hand and it dropped five times, yet he never called for the bell.  So Rotunda takes a beating for ten minutes or better, finally tags in Rich who after a couple minutes slaps on a sleeper, gets hit from behind and is promptly pinned.

Tony Schiavone talks the The Steiner Brothers about their upcoming match with Doom

Hair vs. Hair Match: "Precious" Paul Ellering pinned Theodore R. Long  1:57

Missy Hyatt was the special guest ring announcer
Ok, a hair match where one of the competitors is not just balding, but the top of his head is completely bald, the just had the crown around the sides and back.  Ellering is already in the ring, Long gets the full music introduction, he comes out wearing boxing gloves and head gear.  Long tries to cheat, but Ellering pulls off the loaded boxing clove eventually knocking Long out with it.

The stylist quickly cuts off a few clumps but doesn't shave it all off.  Also Capetta announced the winner so apparently Hyatt only had introduction duties.

Tony Schiavone talks to the Horsemen: Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, & Sid Vicious about Flairs title match with Lex Luger later that evening.

The Midnight Express: Beautiful Bobby & Sweet Stan with James E. Cornette United States Tag Team Champions: Z-Man &"Flyin" Brian in 20:20 to win the championships

Cornette was to be locked into a cage at ringside, but of course he refused.  Z-Man and Pilman dispose to the Midnights and lock him in it much to the delight of the crowd.  Instead of being suspended above the ring, it was on wheels and pushed halfway down the aisle.

I really dislike that the Midnight Express' theme is dubbed over with the worst generic rock music.  The me their theme is one of the more iconic themes in wrestling. Late in the match Eaton landed a spectacular Alabama Jam onto Pillman.

Good match when The Midnights picked up the win when Lane "loaded up" his boot and kicked Z-Man on his shoulder and he fell right into a small package from Eaton who got the pin.

We got to Gordon Solie in the back where Robocop is ready to come to the ring.  For some reason the cop of the future as a security force.  The camera breaks up and we catch glimpses of Robocop before we lose the feed.  We lost the feed from out back.

Sting comes the ring, I like when Capetta introduces Robocop he lists his prime directives.  As Robocop is making his entrance the Horsemen lock Sting into Cornette's cage.  Robocop then easily bends two bars in the center of the door which pops open as.  Robocop then pushes the door closed and "rips" it off the hinges.  The Horsemen run, Cops left leg panel half breaks off and they leave.

Robo never said anything neither did Sting.  I wonder what he wanted.

Tony Shiavone interviews The Junkyard Dog who's happy to be back in WCW.  Cornette comes out

Corporal Punishment Match: The Rock n' Roll Express: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated The Fabulous Freebirds: Michael P.S. Hayes & "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin in 18:33

The Express comes out on a motorized platform that has a jukebox on it.  This is a standard tag team match with leather straps attached to each ring post so they can use them whenever they want.

A few minutes into the match the Rock n' Rolls got their hands on the straps and let the Freebirds feel the leather.  Then for some reason they put the straps back on the ringposts and went back to having a standard tag team match.

Eventually Hayes and Gibson are in the ring together and bot have a strap however it's not long until the Rock n' Rolls get them and chase the birds out of the ring.  And then the put the straps away, seriously this is dumb.

Hayes has Gibson set up for a DDT, Morton came off the top rope with a sunset flip getting the three count.  They barely used the straps, they shouldn't have been in the match.

Tony Shiavone interviews Doug Furnace, they don't talk about him but about Lex Luger.  Furnace leaves and Sting comes out.  He also talks about Luger.  The angle is that Luger just got out of the hospital and has been advised by doctors not to compete.

Doom: Ron Simmons & "Hacksaw" Butch Reed with Theodore R. Long defeated World Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers: Rick & Scott in 19:14 to win the championships

This was four guys basically barely selling anything.  We saw repeated bodyslams on the floor, and yet the finish is when Rick Steiner is going to belly to belly suplex Reed from the second rope and Simmons pulls Rick down by the hair and Reed falls on him for the pin.

Tony Schiavone interviews the new Tag Team Champions: Doom

Steel Cage: United States Heavyweight Champion: "Total Package" Lex Luger defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champions: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair withe Women in 17:21 by disqualification

The story they keep selling is that Luger just got out of the hospital and shouldn't be competing. This is not a typical cage that is up against the ropes, it sits on the floor outside the ring like Hell in a Cell, however it has bars similar to the old WWF Blue Steel Cage.

The referee checks Woman and finds a foreign object in her glove.  I'm surprised that she is staying inside the cage on the floor area.  Decent enough match I guess, Flair works hard, gets busted open and bleeds a pint.

The Horsemen: Arn, Ole, & Sid come to ringside trying to get in the cage, they can't.  Sting comes to stop them and doesn't fare well.  El Gigante comes out to aid Sting in chasing off the Horsemen.  Ole get's control of the cage and raises it up so Windham can get in, Luger has Flair in the torture rack and Windham attacks for the DQ.  The rest of the Horsemen get under the cage and Ole lowers it.

Finally the cage raises and and Sting gets in, El Gigante just stands there.  The Horsemen calmly leave and Flair is interviewed in the aisle by Tony Schiavone and he cuts and unintelligible promo until Sting attacks Flair and the Horsemen retreat.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

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The Last Match: WWE Tag Team's of the 80's Part II

Welcome to Part 2 in my The Last Match retrospective looking at the WWE Tag Team's of the 80's!  Make sure you check out part one here: WWE Tag Team's of the 80's Part I

Demolition: Ax & Smash
October 28, 2016 CWE Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
with Wildman Firpo defeated The Cannon Clan: Bobby Collins, Kevin Cannon, & Rob Stardom

One of the most dominate teams of the WWE in the late 80's they sadly fizzled out at the end of their first run.  Ax had left the WWE in November 1990 while Smash and Crush continued as a team until May 1991. 

Seventeen years later on September 29, 2007 Ax & Smash reunited to defeat the Christopher Street Connection to win the UXW Tag Team Championships.  Over the next nine years the duo continued to compete around the world much to the delight of their fans.

The Bolsheviks: Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov
April 24, 1990 Wrestling Challenge San Antonio, Texas
defeated by The Rockers: Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels

Zhukov joined the WWE in October of 1987 after touring the territories since his debut in 1978.  He was using the Russian gimmick in the AWA prior the coming to the WWE where he was teamed with Nikolai.  For two and a half years the duo wrestled primarily has enhancement talent however did receive a couple title matches with Strike Force.  Including a two out three falls match at Saturday Night's Main Event.

After the duo split up they feuded briefly before Nikolai left the promotions.  Zhukov continued on his own until he too left the WWE in February 1991.

The Dream Team: Brutus Beefcake & Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
June 15, 2013 Liberty States Wrestling, Oakland, New Jersey
defeated by Andrew Anderson & Kraig Stagg

The Hammer kicked Beefcake out of the team in favor of Dino Bravo at WrestleMania III in 1987.  The teamed up again in November 2003 at the Road Warrior Hawk memorial show defeating the Powers of Pain.  Over the next ten years they teamed up again thirteen times winning more often than losing.

The Powers of Pain: Warlord & The Barbarian
April 16, 2016 WrestleMerica, Gastonia, North Carolina
defeated by The Rock n' Roll Express: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson in a steel cage match

Warlord and Barbarian first began teaming in Jim Crockett Promotions in January 1988 before joining the WWE in June of that year.  In March of 1990 they parted ways reuniting for a match in 1991 & 1992 in the WWE.  At the end of 1995 beginning of 1996 the wrestled a couple matches under masks as The Super Assassins in WCW. 

They didn't team again until 2003 and did so a couple dozens times over the next 13 years including wrestling five steel cage matches with the Rock n' Roll Express in 2016. 

The Rockers: Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty
March 14, 2005 Raw, Atlanta Georgia
defeated La Resistance: Rob Conway & Sylvain Grenier

They first began teaming in the AWA in 1986 until 1988 winning the AWA World Tag Team Championships two times.  They joined the WWE in 1988 and were a very successful tag team for the next 3.5 years even though the never officially captured the WWE Tag Team Championships.

We all know how the team ended, it's a pretty historic moment in wrestling.  In 2005 Michaels was feuding with Kurt Angle leading up to WrestleMania and Marty Jannetty was brought in to have a match on SmackDown with Angle.  To set that up the Rockers reunited on Monday Night Raw for a tag team match.  It was really cool them coming out to the Rockers music and Lilian Garcia announcing them as The Rockers.  For not having teamed in 14 years they looked great even hitting some classic tandem offence.

The Conquistadors: Uno & Dos
March 19, 1989 WWE, Hartford, Connecticut
defeated by The Young Stallions: Jim Powers & Paul Roma

Jose Estrada & Jose Luis Rivera had both been in the WWE for over a decade when they were teamed together and repackaged as The Conquistadors in November 1987.  They were essentially a jobber tag team picking up only a handful of wins in the 16 months there were together.

Their best showing together was at the 1988 Survivor Series when they were the last team eliminated on the heel team by the winners the Powers of Pain.  Other men donned the golden hoods as The Conquistadors but never again was it the original team.

Power and Glory: Paul Roma & Hercules
October 9, 1991 WWE house show, Paris, France
defeated by The Rockers: Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty

I can't put my finger on it as to why but I just really like these two guys together as a team.  They only teamed together for 18 months, and they lost more than they won, but they had some great matches with The Rockers and the Hart Foundation. 

They just jelled as a team and it would have been cool to see them get a tag team title run.  After this match Hercules continued a singles run while Roma took almost two years off before returning in 1993 in WCW.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!