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Dueling Chair Shots
by Kurt La Mont
column date 09/27/2000

ECW returns to PPV this Sunday night with the second annual Anarchy Rulz coming to us from the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota. Last year at Anarchy Rulz Mike Awesome came out of nowhere to take the title away from Taz in an unscheduled 3-way dance.

This year Jerry Lynn gets a shot at the World Heavyweight Champion, Justin Credible in Lynn's home state of Minnesota.

Here's a match-by-match breakdown of the 5 announced matches so far:

Joel Gertner vs. Cyrus

I'm guessing this isn't going to be a technical, mat-wrestling clinic here. So with that in mind I think we'll end up seeing Gertner, Rhino, and a table. You can put the pieces together from here.

CW Anderson vs. Steve Corino - #1 Contenders Match

From what I gathered from stevecorino.com this is for the #1 contender at November to Remember. If this is the case I find this match very puzzling. No offense is meant to either of these two, who I think can both be great in ECW, but I would think that you would want your two biggest names in the main event of your showcase event of the year next month at November to Remember. I don't see Corino or Anderson as that guy right now. Of course this is wrestling so anything can change at a moments notice but I don't think it will. Aside from that this should be a strong, old school style of match. I see Corino finally winning his first PPV match.

FBI vs. Mikey Whipwreck and Tajiri - Tag Team Championship

This is one of the matches that I am really looking forward to seeing as it involves 4 wrestlers that I really enjoy watching. Mamaluke is quickly becoming a favorite of mine in ECW. His mannerisms are great and he bumps like a mad man. Tajiri and Mikey are over about as much as you can expect a tag team to be. I'm expecting another great match from these two teams. I think the FBI will benefit from a win more than Mikey and Tajiri so I will pick go with them in this match.

Rhino vs. Rob Van Dam - TV Championship

Finally, Rhino is not scheduled to wrestle the Sandman on PPV. This time he draws RVD in the battle over who the real TV Champion is, as RVD was never beaten as TV Champ. Should be an interesting match. These two have looked good against each other in previous matches so this match should be no different. Who wins this match should be interesting as these two are the two who are the least pinned in ECW. This is a toss up in my mind but I think I'll go with RVD.

Justin Credible vs. Jerry Lynn - World Heavyweight Championship

It was announced that New Jack would be the referee for this match. After being taken out by Rhino that may have changed but I'm sure we'll find out more on this week's TNN show.

I've been disappointed in the buildup for this match. These two had a great feud a couple of years ago (which included a great 2/3 falls match and a great submission match) leading to an excellent concluding match at Heatwave 98. This time around Jerry Lynn was announced the number 1 contender in August and there hasn't been much since then. Credible's main foe seems to be Corino lately and Jerry Lynn is waiting for his turn at the PPV. I realize that there is a 3-way dance with Lynn, Credible and Corino on TV this week but the focus leading to this match should be on Lynn and Credible only and I don't think that's been the case.

Regardless of all of that there's no doubt in my mind that these two will end up having a great match. With the hometown crowd behind him there should be great heat from the crowd that is always a plus. The crowd should be popping for every near fall that helps you believe that Lynn has a shot at winning the title. My initial thought was to pick Lynn in this match up but in light of the number 1 contender match I think we are looking at a Corino-Credible match at November to Remember so I will choose Justin to retain the belt here.

Obviously, I could be way off with my prediction of a Corino - Credible match headlining November to Remember but it looks like it is shaping up that way. I don't think this is the way to go myself. November to Remember should be the ultimate show of the year and you should put on the best match in the main event that you possibly can.

I realize that Corino and Credible had a great match in NYC but Corino still has not had enough credible (no pun intended) victories in ECW to make it seem like he is a legitimate contender for the World Title in my mind. So because of that I don't think that this would be a good N2R headliner.

I think the best match that could be put on at N2R is RVD and Credible. ECW fans have been waiting for this for 2 years now and they've barely even been in the same ring together let alone wrestle each other. I'd be shocked to see that happen now.

The next best choice for a N2R main event would be a Lynn - RVD match up if Lynn were to win the title this Sunday just because you know you'll get a classic out of those two and everyone wants to see RVD with the World Title.

No matter what happens at this PPV will have a lot of great wrestling on it, that's the great part about ECW. What will make or break the PPV in my mind, however, is how N2R shapes up.

TNN Thoughts:

Well, I guess Vince McMahon looks like the newest ECW hero after allowing ECW to continue on TNN indefinitely through the end of the year. The ironic part of all of this is that ECW, who has been practically been begging to get off of TNN, finally had the opportunity to leave and didn't take the first chance that TNN gave them. I guess ECW had a change of heart now that TNN has 'pop'

More good stuff next week as I'll review all that went down at Anarchy Rulz and more. You can contact me with comments or questions at [email protected].

Past editions of Dueling Chair Shots
10/4
10/16
10/27
11/5
11/10
11/17
11/19
12/03
12/10
12/17
01/03
01/19
01/29
02/04
02/14
02/22
02/29
03/06
03/13
03/20
04/12
04/28
05/08
05/18
05/23
05/30
06/05
06/13
06/21
06/29
07/06
07/11
07/17
07/24
08/01
08/07
08/20
08/30
09/06
09/14
09/20