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ECW Year in Review:
1999 will be remember
as the year that ECW staked its claim as a major player in the
wrestling industry.
In 1999 ECW went to 6 PPVs, signed a significant video game deal,
brought in a minority
owner, and went national with the TNN deal.
ECW Wrestler of the
Year:
Jerry Lynn.
He has consistently had great matches with just about anyone he has been
put
in the ring with.
Off the top of my head I can remember great matches with Tajiri, Super
Crazy, Justin Credible,
Lance Storm and of course the great series of matches with Rob
Van Dam. He's
the most versatile wrestler in the company as he can wrestle virtually
any
style of match and
he's elevated himself more than anyone else in ECW in 1999. His
match against Rob
Van Dam at Hardcore Heaven was great and even more impressive
when you consider
that he wrestled an additional 15 minutes after landing on his face
when he probably
shouldn't have continued. My favorite move came out of this match
as
well when Jerry
did a sunset flip - powerbomb combo on Van Dam through a table.
ECW Show of the Year:
This one's an easy
one; Queens, August 26. This show was memorable for several
reasons; it was
the last ECW show at the Elk Lodge, it was the Dudley Boys last night in
ECW and it was the
night Raven returned to ECW, it ended up being the first 2 TNN
shows because Ohio
sucks, the tag team belts changed hands twice, another RVD/Jerry
Lynn matchup, Pee
Wee does a plancha, and at the end of the show the Dudleys broke
character and spoke
about their time in ECW. If there ever was a fan cam to purchase
this
was it.
Top Ten Matches in
ECW in 1999:
10.
Super Crazy v. Tajiri v. Jerry Lynn - November to Remember
9. Sabu
v. Justin Credible - Anarchy Rulz
8. Tommy
Dreamer v. Lance Storm - Hardcore Heaven
7. Shane
Douglas v. Justin Credible - Cyberslam
6. Rob Van Dam v.
Jerry Lynn - September Arena Show
5. Mike Awesome
v. Tanaka - November to Remember
4. Raven/Dreamer
v. Credible/Storm - October Arena Show (Return of the Sandman)
3. Mike Awesome
v. Tanaka v. Taz - Anarchy Rulz
2. Rob Van Dam v.
Jerry Lynn - Hardcore Heaven
1. Raven/Dreamer
v. Dudley Boys - August Queens Show
After a few years
of growing pains, first going to PPV, then 6 PPVs a year and then
national TV, ECW's
focus in 2000 should be entirely focused on the product. With the
deepest roster top
to bottom in ECW's history this upcoming year has the potential to be
the best yet.