Misnik's
Musings
07/09/2000
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Last night, Saturday night, July 8th, ECW made its long awaited return to the Arena since CyberSlam 2000. There is going to be another ECW Arena show on August 19th, so it isn't the last one.
In hyping up the ECW Arena show, Paul Heyman cut a promo that aired on WGTW channel 48 in Philadelphia. The following is a transcript of what Paul said in that promo-----
"Everywhere I have been going lately, people have been asking me Paul E what are you going to do this time at the ECW Arena. Well tomorrow night in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania---
If you're a fan of Rob Van Dam's, I got something for ya.
If you're a fan of the Sandman's, I got something for ya.
If you're a fan of Raven's, I got something for ya.
If you're a fan of New Jack's, I got something for ya.
If you're a fan of the hot sexy women of ECW, Francine; Dawn Marie; George- I've got something for you.
If you like Rhino and Justin Credible, I've got something for you.
and even if you are the biggest fan of all the superstars of ECW and you think you've seen it all; tomorrow night I got something a little extra for you because tomorrow night we go back after WCW, tomorrow night we raid WCW again.
Tomorrow night an ECW superstar returns to the extreme in Philadelphia from WCW. Tomorrow night in Philadelphia we're going to take the wrestling world, I promise you, to the extreme"
Ok now, lets review…
Rob Van Dam. Yes, the whole FN show was in the main event and had a match against Balls Mahoney. I was under the impression that the "feud" between the two ended at Anarchy Rulz PPV last year. I'm a big fan of both wrestlers, but this is still a clash of styles. It didn't really work at Anarchy Rulz, they did it at Poughkeepsie on Friday night. Why again at the Arena? Did Paul plan on having RVD/Psychosis? That would have been cool- but I think that RVD might have had another opponent, especially for the main event that night.
Sandman. Part of the dream partner mystery tag team match. I'd never thought we'd be having Jerry Lynn and the Sandman mentioned in the same breath. Rhino and Steve Corino have worked together and have been part of the whole "network" angle. The tag match was neat and got your hopes that the match between Sandman and Rhino actually might take place next Sunday at the PPV. We got a glimpse too at Steve Corino vs. Jerry Lynn and what they can bring to the table. I for one am thrilled to be seeing Steve wrestle again. His time with Dusty Rhodes brought him back up a notch and it's a matter of time before he's back to that level when he was chasing Taz around. Steve Corino is a guy who is going to have main event status in 2000.
Raven. Well, I was hoping that he'd get a better send off that a match with Scotty Anton and his clap. Raven showed some emotion in his goodbyes last night. Highlight was when he took the mic from Cyrus and then said" Is this going anywhere?". Well, don't worry Raven- we all have been thinking the same thing. I understand Dreamer had other commitments. However this would have been a perfect time for the Raven/Justin Credible match. There are so many scenarios that can play out of this that would have better built up the PPV match next Sunday with Dreamer. Justin's valet now being Francine, that has some storyline to it. Because Francine has the history with Raven of course and same thing with her and Dreamer. Raven could have been "representing his friend" in this- also to add to the psychology with messing with Francine's head a week before the match doubting her allegiance with Justin. The barbed wire could have been utilized; I think that Raven has a bit of history with that. Then when it hits TV Joey could have played up the fact that if Raven wins the ECW World Heavyweight title from Justin Credible- what does that do to his status in ECW? Will he take the belt to the WWF if he wins? What could a match between Tommy Dreamer and Raven do to their just mended relationship?
New Jack. Well he wasn't there. One would assume that he is recovering from his injuries or is already at the Grand Olympic Auditorium looking for a place to leap from. I hope that the latter is just the joke I made it out to be. Just rest up and find a stoop some place or a row of chairs. Please Jerome. Don't.
Francine. Even though I went over how I wanted to book the title defence last night. However, if there was any doubt that Francine was the queen of extreme it was done last night. Carl Ouellette raised the ante last night on putting women through tables. One thing too that bothered me about that match up last night. How the hell can a guy who just recently wasn't signed by ECW get a title shot? HC Loc best watch out- cause if all it takes to get a title shot is to kick his ass, the extreme ref better head for higher ground.
No Dawn Marie, No George. It's a shame that Dawn wasn't able to make an appearance last night. Not only is she one of the hottest women in wrestling, but also she has a great talent. During that 8 person tag team festival, she could have made an appearance at ringside to be looking over the tag teams as possibly the one she is going to manage. Have her involved in the finish, and then bring it along the way so that she ends up with Simon and Swinger at the end of all this- regardless of who gets the ECW Tag Belts. Hey, remember those?
Raid of WCW? Well I wouldn't call Bobby Eaton a raid. Pyschosis was relased from his contract.
Couple of debuts at the ECW Arena last night and well returns…
DaBlueBoy. - Welcome home Brian. This was the first look I had at him. He looks great, as someone who also lost a considerable amount of weight I know what it was like. Love the new angle and look. To turn from fat schlub to sex symbol is a classic. Ugly ducking to a swan. Gotta love it!!!
Jasmine St Clair- take that Rob Black. Nice to see her last night. She held her own (literally) against Jazz. I was having flashbacks to one of the first scenes of "Scary Movie".
Bobby Eaton- Nice to see you will get to end your career with some class and dignity. How you're going to play into the "Alleged" Dangerous Alliance should be interesting.
Matthews and York. In what is already a muddled tag team scene in ECW- here is another wild card. I have seen tapes of these guys and know what they can be. I'm looking forward to some great matches seeing them in ECW. Should be having some classics in ECW.
After all of the hype and build-up, I think that a lot of the fans that left the Arena left a little confused. Balls Mahoney left the ring and then the fans didn't leave. A little more than a 2 hr show a week before a ppv. It will be good tv, but the ECW Arena shouldn't be a tv taping. The shows are few and far between and should be an event.
Sunday night, ECW returns to pay per view with Heat Wave 2000. This event is live from the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Ticket sales have been incredible and it's going to be a great show as ECW makes its long awaited West Coast debut. Contact your local cable company or satellite provider for ordering information
this column was written as a fan who was watching the Channel 48 show and then going to the ECW Arena, I understand that some talent had committments in Las Vegas for Pioneer
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Past editions of "Misnik's Musings"
09/07/99
09/12/99
09/20/99
09/29/99
10/10/99
10/18/99
10/24/99
11/01/99
11/11/99
11/28/99
12/10/99
12/11/99
12/18/99
01/10/2000
01/25/2000
02/18/2000
02/29/2000
03/14/2000
04/16/2000