Manhattan, New York - June 2005
CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, the WWE Champion was John Cena, the World Heavyweight Champion was Batista, the Intercontinental Champion was Shelton Benjamin, and the United States Champion was Orlando Jordan. The World Tag Team Champions were Rosey & The Hurricane, while the WWE Tag Team Champions were Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro. Finally, the WWE Women's Champion was Trish Stratus and the Cruiserweight Champion was Paul London. Mind you, absolutely none of these titles or wrestlers appeared on this show, though.
How should one categorize a show like this?
The WWE produced it and promoted it. It features a number of then-WWE superstars. A group of RAW and SmackDown "invaders" show up at the end. At one point, Joey Styles even thanks Vince McMahon for making this show happen.
But this show still feels like a true ECW pay-per-view. The aforementioned Joey Styles is on commentary and kicks off the show. The crowd is rabid, almost entirely male, and there's even that one bearded dude sitting front and center just like in the old days. The WWE superstars who do appear on the show are sporting their ECW-era gear. The setting itself is a callback to the more intimate venues that hosted ECW rather than the stadiums and arenas that the WWE routinely filled at this time.
This isn't a true ECW show, but its as close to it as the WWE would ever get.
The show begins with Joey Styles being welcomed into the Hammerstein Ballroom, the commentator almost brought to tears by the warm reception he gets. Styles introduces his commentary partner, the Hardcore Legend Mick Foley, one of the most notable ECW alums.
Our opening contest sees Lance Storm (with Dawn Marie) taking on his longtime friend and former tag team partner, Chris Jericho (who is decked out in his Lionheart gear). Jericho and Storm show off their technical skills early, trading counters and reversals. This match features some of the coolest and best dropkicks I've seen in years, at one point Jericho even hitting one to the back of Storm's head as he leaps backwards off the top rope. This is just a great, great match, action-packed and physical and, because of the production style, you can hear every hit. Justin Credible and Jason make an unexpected appearance at the tail end of the match, interfering to help Storm steal the victory. With a better ending, I'd probably call this a "Must See" match, but its not quite there. (3.5/5)
Cut to a video introduction by "The Pitbull" Gary Wolfe. Wolfe briefly eulogizes his ECW brothers who can't be on the show, including Pitbull #2 (Anthony Durante), who had passed away about two years before this show. Its a nice video and the crowd chants "Yes We Do" after the title card "ECW Remembers" appears.
"The Sinister Minister" James Vandenburg and Mikey Whipwreck show up as back-up for Tajiri as he prepares to face The FBI's Little Guido (backed up by Tracey Smothers (RIP), Tony Mamaluke, Big Guido, and JT Smith) and Super Crazy in a 3-way dance. As expected, these guys go all out, even brawling into the crowd where Super Crazy hits a moonsault off of a balcony onto multiple members of the FBI. Back in the ring, we get all sorts of run-ins and signature spots, this match just a flurry of fun moments and high spots. The crowd is fully behind Super Crazy when it comes down to him and Tajiri. The ending sequence isn't great - why doesn't Whipwreck break up the count like he did multiple times earlier? - but at least its clean. Really fun match. (3/5)
Joey cuts to a video package of ECW highlights. Lots of good highlights.
Next up, Psicosis vs. Rey Mysterio. Have these guys ever had a bad match against each other? A loud "lucha libre" chant breaks out before they even touch. Styles notes on commentary that these two had, up till this time, wrestled 500 times. A "Put The Mask On" chant breaks out in reference to Psicosis taking his mask off before the match (I don't quite know why) but its quieted down by their next sequence. Psicosis applies a headlock and gets booed then gets even more heat by manhandling Rey, sending him neck first into the corner and then the barricade. Psicosis then hits a guillotine leg drop on Rey to a huge pop. Psicosis attempts an Air Sabu, but Mysterio dodges and hits the mat hard. Rey now gets some offense in and Psicosis attempts another dive into the corner but hits the post hard and ends up in the crowd. Mysterio then delivers a ridiculous Seated Senton onto Psicosis in the crowd! Mysterio sets him up and hits the 619, which gets booed before hits the West Coast Pop for the win. Another great match, though, I certainly wouldn't call it their best ever. (3/5)
The WWE "Invaders" arrive and the crowd loudly boos them, chanting "You Suck Dick" and then "Fuck You SmackDown" as Kurt Angle, JBL, and others make their way into the balcony.
Styles then cuts to another video package of ECW highlights, including Benoit breaking Sabu's neck and Steve Austin doing his Eric Bischoff impression.
Back in the arena, Joel Gertner gets in the face of Kurt Angle and JBL. Before he can finish asking them a question, the SmackDown stars shove him out of the balcony. Angle cuts a promo that enrages the crowd before handing the mic to JBL. As JBL rips into the audience, a loud "Shut The Fuck Up" chant nearly drowns him out. BL continues to berate the crowd but is interrupted by none other than...Rob Van Dam and Bill Alfonso! RVD was recovering from an injury at this point, but would be back in the ring before the year was over (if I'm not mistaken). Van Dam proceeds to cut one of the most clear-headed, meaningful promos of his career, dropping more than a few controversial lines about being held back by the "creatives" in the WWE. (+1)
Before Van Dam can finish his speech, Rhyno shows up and spears him to signal the start of an impromptu match against Sabu (who appears in the ring after the lights cut off and come back on). Sabu wallops Rhyno with a chairshot to the head that draws a huge pop from the already-wild crowd. Sabu follows it up with a springboard dive into the entranceway. Sabu attempts a moonsault through a table, but Rhyno prevents him and retakes control. Rhyno flips off the crowd, fully embracing his heel role on this night. Rhyno climbs to the top rope, but Sabu brings him down with a flying headscissors for 2. Sabu hits the Air Sabu into the corner and then a leg drop off the chair for another 2 count. Sabu attempts the Triple Jump Moonsault, but Rhyno trips him up and sends him face-first into the chair. Rhyno drops Sabu face-first onto the chair again off a fireman's carry and then hits him with a reverse powerbomb into the corner. Rhyno gets ready for another Gore but hits Alfonso instead! Rhyno hits Sabu with a piledriver and looks to have the match sewn up, but RVD clocks Rhyno with a chair and then hits him with a Chair Surf in the corner. RVD places Rhyno's head on top of a table and Sabu comes off the top rope with a skullcrushing chair-assisted legdrop to get the victory. This match doesn't necessarily deliver as well as the ones that came before it, mostly because its so short and feels a bit more like an add-on to RVD's promo rather than a true match of its own. Still, the crowd loves every minute of it and we do get a crowd-pleasing finish. Plus, it really does capture the "feel" of ECW and how "matches" didn't always start or end with the ringing of bells or adhere to a specific structure. The chaos was part of the fun then and its part of the fun of this show too. (3/5)
Backstage, Al Snow is seen talking to Head and then we get another video package of ECW highlights.
Back in the arena, Eric Bischoff leads a crew of RAW wrestlers into the Ballroom, including Edge, William Regal, and Snitsky. As they snub their noses to the crowd, Chris Benoit arrives to a decent-sized pop. His opponent tonight is noneother than his best friend, Eddie Guerrero. Its kind of a shame that the fans are distracted at the beginning of this match, chanting about Lita (in order to mock Edge) rather than focusing on the action in the ring. Guerrero is brilliant, though, drawing the attention back into the ring by leaving it for a breather. Unfortunately it doesn't quite work as a "You Screwed Matt" chant starts up soon after. Benoit and Guerrero trade chops and finally the audience starts to turn their attention to the ring, leading to dueling "Let's Go Benoit/Let's Go Eddie" chants. Ironically, considering the reputation of ECW and despite this match being the most technical, it is Eddie Guerrero who ends up with blood on his face first on this show. As Eddie applies a headlock, a "Fuck You Bischoff" chant starts up, the audience too focused on the "invaders" to really care about what's going on in the ring for long. Eddie grabs their attention with a chairshot on the outside of the ring and then a superplex back into the ring. Eddie goes for the frog splash, but Benoit rolls out of the way and both guys are out. Benoit hits a Northern Lights Suplex moments later but only gets 2 and then follows it up with a trio of German Suplexes before calling for the headbutt from the top. He connects but can't make the cover in time to get the win, Eddie barely able to kick out at 2.9. Benoit is able to lock in the Crossface and Eddie eventually taps out. This was a good-not-great match that was marred and made inconsequential by the fans' disinterest (hence the 2.5 and not the 3-point score). (2.5/5)
Joel Gertner is back in the balcony, this time hoping to get a word with Eric Bischoff. Gertner begs for a job in a funny twist that was true to his weasley character and Bischoff turns him down, then insults the crowd. Bischoff shines here.
The next contest is a bit of a controversial one - Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka. Awesome was the ECW World Champion in 2000 but jumped ship - still with the title - to WCW when he got what was reported to be a huge contract offer. Awesome's talents were then mostly wasted in WCW, who also had to pay ECW a large sum of money and agree to have Awesome drop the title (to WWE's Tazz, no less) in his last ECW appearance. Because he had essentially "sold out," Awesome was not necessarily beloved by the ECW faithful or even some of the "boys" in the back who felt it was disrespectful for him to leave the company with the belt. Of course, Paul Heyman was also notorious for not paying his wrestlers, pulling all sorts of other shady moves over the years, and allowing his wrestlers to work in various states of inebriation - so, hey, maybe Awesome was justified in wanting to use his rapid rise in popularity to get employment with WCW. Anyway, on commentary, Styles calls him a "Judas" at the start of the match (and doesn't lay off from there) even as Awesome and Tanaka wow the crowd with their work. The most grotesque line that Styles utters during this match is when he says "Its a shame he didn't succeed" in reference to Awesome hitting a "suicide" dive on his opponent (Mike Awesome would go on to take his own life in 2007). Tanaka clobbers him with a devastating chairshot to the skull a few minutes later as Awesome sets up a table. Awesome then hits him with an Awesome Bomb through the table on the floor in one of the sickest spots of the night. Wow. Even Styles has to bestow it with an "Oh My God!" as the crowds chant something a little more R-rated. Awesome hits a big splash, but only gets 2. Awesome tries a piledriver, but Tanaka counters - only for Awesome to counter it again and hit another Awesome Bomb! Awesome grabs a chair and waffles Tanaka with it 3 times right in the skull! Tanaka won't stay down, though, and ends up hitting him with a flip-over neckbreaker from the corner. Tanaka delivers a devastating tornado DDT onto a stack of chairs for another 2 count. He follows it with a ridiculous chair-assisted elbow drop onto Awesome (who already has a chair covering his face) as the crowd goes insane. This match is just all kinds of ridiculous. Awesome and Tanaka continue their war, Awesome eventually landing a release german and then a spear. Awesome follows it with a jumping chair shot and then grabs another table. Awesome sets the table up and then hoists Tanaka up onto the top rope. Tanaka gains the upperhand, though, hitting Awesome with a tornado DDT through a table! Back up to the top rope they go, Awesome hitting another Awesome Bomb into the table scraps. Awesome heads out of the ring and sets up yet another table, ultimately powerbombing Tanaka from the ring onto the arena floor and then hitting another splash onto the wreckage to get the pinfall on the floor (which is legal in ECW, I guess?). Insane match and rightfully considered the Match of the Night. (4/5)
Paul Heyman comes out next, the crowd chanting "Paul E" as he makes his way down the aisle. Before he can speak any words, a loud "Thank You Paul" chant erupts. Heyman thanks Tod Gordon and then a pair of TV producers in the front row before turning his attention to the fans, thanking them for their support. Heyman then tells off Eric Bischoff, Edge, and JBL, getting in some serious digs and his famous line about how the only reason JBL got to be World Champion was because "Triple H didn't want to work Tuesdays." Another classic moment from this show. (+1)
Main event time - The Dudleys vs. Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman. Everything about this "match" is tremendous. I put "match" in parenthesis because this is the opposite of a traditional wrestling match - it is a circus. Before the bell rings, we get a Sandman homecoming, an "invasion" by the Blue World Order, an appearance by the chairmen of ECW, Ballz Mahoney and Axl Rotten, and Kid Kash doing a springboard front-flip dive into a whole mess of ECW wrestlers. The chaos does not end there as, within the first minute, Tommy Dreamer's face is a crimson mask and we get cheese graters, chairs, tables, canes, and a ladder in rapid succession. If that isn't enough, The Impact Players show up with barb-wire and Francine in tow and immediately go after Dreamer and Sandman. Making the save, though, is none other than Dreamer's real-life main squeeze, Beulah McGillicutty, who not only gets some revenge on her arch-nemesis Francine but even gets to hit a DDT on Bubba Ray. The ultraviolence continues as the match goes on, peaking with the arrival of Spike Dudley with lighter fluid in hand and the powerbombing of Tommy Dreamer through a flaming table. If you're at all a fan of ECW, this match is the ultimate Greatest Hits package, the most notable absences being Raven, Terry Funk, and Shane Douglas (who all appeared on the counter-reunion held two days earlier known as Hardcore Homecoming). I'm not going to go a full 5-stars with this because this match is really just about scratching a nostalgia itch more than anything, but in terms of delivering on that promise, its absolutely a career highlight for everyone involved and a definite must-watch. (4.5/5)
Demanding a beer for his fallen tag partner, The Sandman pleads helplessly until we hear the familiar sound of glass shattering and out comes "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Austin gets a warm reception from the crowd because, hey, he's Steve Austin and appearances from Austin were and still are fairly rare, but it does seem a bit odd that Austin is given such a prominent spot considering his actual ECW run wasn't all that lengthy. Austin calls out the WWE Superstars in the balconies and, again, it just seems a bit weird to have a guy that is on the shortlist of BIGGEST WWE Superstars of all time calling out the RAW and SmackDown invaders. Eventually the invaders make their way to the ring and we get our final cameo - Taz (with one "z" as Joey Styles notes on commentary) - and the crowd goes ballistic one last time watching the ECW stars beat down the WWE army (including Eric Bischoff, who is clearly having the time of his life playing the role of the ultimate anti-ECW villain). (+1)
At a running time of 2.5 hours and filled with a variety of wrestling styles, personalities, video packages, promos, and segments, ECW One Night Stand 2005 remains one of the best pay-per-views the WWE ever produced. Much of that credit, according to most sources, goes to Tommy Dreamer, though he's stated in interviews that he was helped by Paul Heyman and the "look" of the show definitely has at least some of the WWE sheen (maybe not so much in the graphics department, but there's none of the graininess, shaky cam look, or dropped sound that often comes to mind when speaking about ECW productions). With a strong Kwang Score of 3.79-out-of-5, this is an easy...
FINAL RATING - Watch It
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